Piecemakers’ lawsuit to go to arbitrator

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- A judge has ordered that a religious group’s harassment

lawsuit against the 26-year-old son of one of its members go before an

arbitrator.

The Piecemakers and Tom Halliburton must try to reach a settlement

through arbitration by December. The arbitrator will try to mediate

between the two sides, but if a settlement cannot be reached, the parties

could let the arbitrator decide the case or simply go to trial.

The Piecemakers is a 30-member group that has given up the traditional

family structure -- including marriage and sex -- to live communally in

six Mesa Verde homes.

The antigovernment group sued Halliburton for allegedly causing the

group a loss of business by picketing in front of their Adams Street

crafts store. The Piecemakers have also accused him of sending e-mail

messages to their Web customers describing the group as a

mind-controlling cult.Halliburton blames the Piecemakers for keeping his

mother from his college graduation. She joined the group 20 years ago and

has cut herself off from her family.

Halliburton was not available for comment for press time, but his

lawyer, Joe Donahue, said he thinks arbitration will be quicker than a

trial.

“We don’t need a public display of the emotions that gave rise to the

[incidents] propelling this case,” Donahue said.

Stuart Wallach, attorney for the Piecemakers, said he hopes mediation

will result in a settlement.

“Everyone would rather have a settlement, but sometimes you just

can’t,” he said. “All you can do is try.”

The lawsuit was delayed four times because the Piecemakers had

insufficient evidence for a case against Halliburton before it was

accepted for trial in April.