My enti= re correspondence with Deirdre Westgate (MadeleineÕs mother)
All letters are from Galison to Westgate except the se= cond one. This was the only letter Westgate ever sent. She never told me to stop writing and she forwarded every letter to Greenberg.
1/6=
/04
Dear
Deirdre,
I d=
on't
know if you have heard anything about the insanity that is going on between
Madi and me, but I would be extremely grateful if you could email me or cal=
l me
at (001) 212 677 7344 as soon as possible.
In =
my
opinion, Madi has gotten herself in a situation that could be extremely
destructive to both of our careers, but could leave Madi in very serious le=
gal
trouble as well. I would say that the situation is really urgent, so please
call, any time at all, night or day. You have my word that any conversation
will be absolutely confidential.
Sin=
cerely,
Wil=
liam
PS:=
I know
you don't know me very well, but I feel that you've had a generally favorab=
le
impression of me. I hope you will trust that impression and believe that my
intentions are for the best for all concerned.
1/=
6/04
De=
ar
William,
Th=
ank you
for your email. Unfortunatel=
y I am
unable to make any comments since the matter you refer to is now in the han=
ds
of attorneys.
Be=
st
wishes,
De=
irdre
De=
irdre
Westgate
46=
3 rue de
la Mairie
27=
380
Amfreville-les-Champs
Fr=
ance
TE=
L 02 32
49 52 92
em=
ail: deirdre.westgate@wanadoo.fr
1/=
6/04
De=
ar
Dierdre,
I
understand. I urge you to look carefully into the situation, to speak to Ma=
di's
lawyer and to ask yourself if this the person who should be holding your
daughter's fate in his hands. I am extremely sorry that it has come to this=
. I
have tried to offer several creative solutions that would benefit all
concerned, but no one in Madi's camp is willing to speak in good faith.
If=
you
speak to Madi, tell her that I pray that there still exists a trace of the
person i once knew and loved. Or thought I knew.
Fo=
nd
regards,
Wi=
lliam
PS=
: My
offer stands- if you want to talk, call. 212 677 7344
3/=
23/04
De=
ar
Deirdre,
I'=
m sorry
to bother you, but I need to be assured that I have done all I can to mitig=
ate
the consequences of the situation regarding Jeff Greenberg and Madi.
If=
you
don't know, here is the story: Jeff Greenberg has made horrendous, libelous
accusations against me and has attempted to extort and threaten me into
relinquishing my rights to the CD I made with Madi last year. Among other
things, he claimed that I physically abused Madi during the time we worked
together- which is absolutely and unequivocally false- and he publis=
hed
this accusation to at least two other parties in the music community. Three
months ago my lawyer warned Jeff, Cynthia Herbst and Madi that there would =
be
legal consequences if these lies were not recanted within one week. Neither Jeff, Cynthia nor Madi ha=
ve
ever responded, and presumably they are continuing to spread these accusati=
ons.
Perhaps our patience and dilligence were misinterpreted as capitulation, but
that can no longer be the case.
Je=
ff
Greenberg is now being investigated by the disciplinary committee of the New
York Bar Association and could be in big trouble. I fear that Jeff's efforts to protect himself may co=
nflict
with his loyalty to Madi and that she may find herself in profound legal tr=
ouble
in the very near future. In my opinion, Jeff Greenberg has been extremely
irresponsible and self serving in his counsel to Madi up until now and I ha=
ve
no reason to think he is going to be charitable to Madi at his own expense.
Rounder Records and Cynthia Herbst also have large stakes (and possible res=
ponsibility)
in this situation, which may also conflict with Madi's legal position.
In=
my
opinion, Madi has behaved terribly towards me in the past year, but as a fr=
iend
who once cared deeply for her I care about her future and I continue to hope
that she is learning from her mistakes. I also cling to the hope that Madi =
did
not initiate this misconduct, but was compelled somehow to follow Greenberg=
's
and/ or Cynthia's counsel rather than that of her conscience and heart. In =
any
case, there is no excuse for what she has allowed to happen and now there w=
ill
be legal consequences.
Ma=
di was
one of the great loves of my life and we shared many beautiful experiences.=
I
shared my tiny apartment with her for seven months and my heart, dreams and
talent with her over for well over a year. Though there were tough times, t=
here
were times when she was incredibly good and generous to me and for these I =
will
always be grateful. As much as I care about Madi, I cannot allow false accusations and threats to jeopardi=
ze the
career and reputation I have been building for the past 30 years. The event=
s of
the past year have been emotionally, physically, and financially devastatin=
g to
me and I must see that the situation is resolved as quickly and definitivel=
y as
possible, so I can move on with my life. For this reason, I am very sorry to
say that my lawyer is in the process of initiating a lawsuit against Jeff
Greenberg, his law firm and Madeleine. Cynthia Herbst may become a
defendent also if the subpeonaed evidence implicates her as well. I only pr=
ay
that there are mitigating circumstances regarding Madi's participation in t=
his
situation that may temper the penalties against her if she is found liable.=
If
there is any way you can help or advise her, I hope you will.
Th=
is letter
is an effort to mitigate the emotional if not the legal consequences for Ma=
di.
Presumably her legal fate will be in the hands of a judge or jury. I had
desperately hoped you would contact me earlier so this lawsuit could have
perhaps been avoided, but now I can only hope you will keep in close
communication with Madi and help guide her through what may well be a very
difficult period. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to help her directl=
y.
Perhaps you have little influence on Madi, or perhaps you feel it's time for
her to face the consequences of her actions. Whatever the situation, I now =
feel
that I have done all I can to help Madi. I can understand why it is awkward=
for
you to contact me but if you have any questions or thoughts, I will always =
welcome
your correspondence. I cannot express how deeply I regret that things have =
come
to this.
Fi=
nally, I
think that Greenberg and Cynthia knew the truth of this situation many mont=
hs
ago, and have encouraged Madi to perpetuate untruths in order to protect
themselves and to make money. This may be the most shameful aspect of this
whole situation. I am amazed that Danny didn't encourage her to do the right
thing, but if he did, his advice was ignored. I don't know how much you have
known about this situation or how you have advised Madi, but I hope and exp=
ect
that you would have told her to be honest. The reason I contacted you earli=
er
was to inform you of the situation, but unfortunately, you chose not to con=
tact
me- probably at Greenberg's advice. If you don't trust my motivations now, =
all
will become clear in the coming months. If there is anything I can do to he=
lp
you help Madi, please let me know.
Re=
spectfully,
Wi=
lliam
212
6777344
3/29/04
De=
ar
Deirdre,
Ca=
n you
please confirm that you received my e-mail of March 23? A single sentence w=
ill
suffice. If you would like me to not contact you again please let me know a=
nd I
promise I will cease communication immediately and if you like, permanently=
.
If=
I don't
hear from you at all I will assume you did not receive this or the last e-m=
ail
and may try to contact you by mail or phone. I only persist because this ma=
tter
is so important and I feel it is my duty to notify you.
I =
would
also like to fax or send you copies of the letters exchanged between Jeff G=
reenberg
and my lawyers that are the basis of the lawsuit. Perhaps you would like to
show then to a lawyer in France. I am not looking for any information from =
you-
I simply want you to be informed so that you can best advise Madi. My
understanding is that as a co-defendant, Jeff Greenberg will be unable to
represent Madeleine in this case if it goes to court- so this matter may so=
on
no longer be "in the hands of lawyers".
I =
also
have important news about the New York Bar Association's investigation of G=
reenberg
which may interest you. There are other very important facts about this case
that I suspect you have not been informed about.
Pl=
ease
know that I have absolutely no emnity towards you and I trust you have none
towards me. I am acting to save my career, reputation and investment and th=
ough
I hope to do this with the least possible legal harm to Madi, it will soon =
be
out of my hands. Madi has never directly accused me of abuse or threatened =
my
rights and interests. (In fact I have many dozens of e-mails letters, poems=
and
drawings from Madi- from as late as October 2003- and not a single one that mentions abuse or indic=
ates
that Madi does not want me to sell the CD.) Greenberg, however, has represe=
nted
her as having done so and Madi has not denied these representations; theref=
ore
I have been forced to take legal action against her as well as Greenberg. M=
adi
will be making decisions in the coming weeks that will critically affect the
rest of her life. I hope you will advise her with love, wisdom, integrity a=
nd courage.
I =
repeat
that if would like me to not contact you further- I will cease immediately =
and
permanently. Just let me know.
Si=
ncerely,
Wi=
lliam
5/7/05
De=
irdre,
Ni=
ce to
see you at the Jazz fest.
I =
wanted
you to see these letters between Madi and the editor of jazzpolice.com. They
are her response to the article posted at:
I =
have no
idea if you have any concern about Madi's well being, but I have shown these
letters to a psychiatrist and she thinks Madi's mental state is worthy of
immediate concern.
Di=
d Madi
mention that in March I offered to release her 100% from any liability in t=
he
lawsuit on the sole condition that she make available her full corresponden=
ce
with Greenberg? If Greenberg had done nothing wrong, the lawsuit would be
history and Madi would be entirely free of it. But she refused- presumably =
at
the advice of her lawyer Wendy Stryker, who used to work for Greenberg's fi=
rm
and was recommended by that firm.
An=
y smart
person can see what's going on here. Any caring mother would do something a=
bout
it.
I =
know you
are a smart person.
Yo=
urs
truly,
Wi=
lliam
Galison