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VaJL.BoxerkDrawer 111?(3The JKews -bulletinLos Lunas NM 8703115*Bicentennial 1776-197666th YearThursday, August 12, 1976Sixth and BacaBelen, New Mexico 87002Horizon calls Anaya suit ‘frivolous’Horizon Corp. has replied to a suit filed last week against the land and development company by the New Mexico attorney general with a slashing attack on AG Toney Anaya, describing his contentions as frivolous.Horizon's vice president and general counsel. Alfred Lehtonen. Tucson, Ariz., read a five-page letter “for the public record at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Albuquerque Press Club. Some 25 persons, including several other Horizon officials, and newspaper, radio and TV representatives attended.In response to questions from the media reps, Lehtonen declined toelaborate on his prepared statement, a letter addressed to Anaya. The newsmen appeared miffled that their questions were not answered. One reporter asked why a press conference was called. Lehtonen indicated thrt it would be unethical for him to comment on f®cts relating to the pending court hearing.The letter to Anaya said the suit “is filled with erroneous fact, that as late as lat Jan. 7 Lehtonen said h’e had met personally with Anaya and was assured that “Anaya's office had no problems with Horizon.Horizon accused the New Mexico attorney general of having plagiarized directly from a suit filed in Arizona by the Arizona attorneygeneral against Horizon.Three of the men you join as defendants are Arizona residents and have never done business in New Mexico, the letter declared.We remain in business, fully obeying all laws and rules, Lehtonen wrote. “We are here, standing behind what we sell and our actions and activities - fully accountable and responsible.”The Horizon attorney noted that Horizon has been in business in New Mexico for 17 years. “We shall be here for another 17 and another 17 beyond that,” he asserted.The text of the letter to the AG reads as follows:Dear Mr. Attorney General:I write to you for the public record. It is disUsteful to me to do so and, until today, prohibited by our corporate policy.However, I cannot let stand unchallenged both the manner in which you instigated your lawsuit against this corporation and the frivolous contentions therein.You released your suit to the media exactly one week before you served it upon this company - through our agent for service of process is located just a few blocks from your office. By doing so, you deliberately fostered and encouraged broad media coverage of these baseless allegations, generating self-serving publicity foryourself, casting a pall upon our customers, our employees, our stockholders, our company, and perhaps most of all, the great number of citizens of your State who presently reside in and enjoy Rio Communities.This action puts upon the public record, through the media, and into the public mind issues and circum stances that have scant basis in fact or law. We cannot let that stand until such time as we can proceed to Court for our ultimate vindication; to do so would be an even greater disservice to those involved with us and to the people of this Sute.We believe the public is entitled to all of the pertinent information as itregards the relationship between your office and this company.To begin to set the record straight.I believe we should commence with these facts:1. In September 1975. you ordered your office to 'intervene' in a class action suit then pending in the United States District Court in Tucson. Ariz.. against Horizon Corp. At this hearing on a preliminary settlement agreement. Robert Hil gendorf. chief of your Consumer Protection Division, entered a strong protest to the court that the agreement offered to the court bv both sides was unfair and unjust. You tlt;K)k this action and position despite Continued on Page 2.
Newspaper Details
Belen News Bulletin
Belen, New Mexico, US
Thu, Aug 12, 1976
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Pilar M.
NA, 13 May 2025
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