From: aa387@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jim Kutz)
Subject: More on the D.C. Deposition of Geller.
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 92 11:36:44 GMT


In a previous article, Justin M. Sanders asked about the depositions.
Here's a letter circulating in the public domain.
 
    Message #61 (67 is last):
    Date: Sat Apr  4 17:13:00 1992
    From: geller-hotline%hotmomma@uunet.UU.NET (Chip Denman)
    Subject: More on the D.C. Deposition of Geller
    To: broadcast-geller-hotline%hotmomma@uunet.UU.NET
 
 
    [Chip Denman is the President of the National Capital Area Skeptics,
    and as Randi mentioned in his own description of the event (already
    posted to this list) one of the people who provided significant moral
    support. Thanks to Chip for this very interesting side light on
    Geller's behavior during the deposition.]
 
    Other than Randi and his attorneys, Penn, Teller and I were the only
    ones who were around for the depositions.  Unfortunately, none of us
    were permitted by Mr. Geller to sit in on the actual proceedings.
 
    When Mr. Geller arrived on our first morning, he dashed out of the
    elevator, grabbed my hand and introduced himself warmly.  "Hi, I'm
    Uri!"  Of course, he recognized Penn and gave him a hearty handshake
    and a big smile.  The fellow could have had a great career in retail
    sales.
 
    Once the depositions began, there was little to do.  Mr. Geller seemed
    to have trouble sitting still; even the receptionists were commenting
    on his constant flitting in and out of the closed conference room.
    Other folks associated with the law firm where this was taking place
    would drop by just to catch the latest tidbits.  Clearly this case is
    not exactly the norm for Washington.  On the rare breaks, Randi seemed
    alternately disgusted by the various insinuations and renewed with
    determination to see this mess through to its proper conclusion.
 
    Of course, I wasn't inside to actually see it, but I understand that
    things were livened up a bit when Randi, in making a point about the
    simple nature of certain tricks, vanished a pen or pencil from the
    table.  That story even got a small mention in the Washington Post.
 
    The next and final morning, Randi & I were there alone.  Once again,
    Randi's attorney asked permission for me to sit in; again it was
    denied.  But just before things got underway, Mr. Geller came out and
    apologized to me up, down, and sideways for having to exclude me.
    Right.
 
    I mostly sat out of sight--but within earshot--of the reception area.
    (I took advantange of the forced confinement to write a talk that I
    was to give at Johns Hopkins on Spiritualism and psychical research.
    There are some interesting parallels here to the 19th century.)  I
    could hear Mr. Geller coming and going, looking for his lunch, etc.  I
    wondered what would happen if I made myself more visable, so I took my
    computer and moved to the outer area.  Sure enough, on his next trip
    through Mr. Geller sat down on the sofa beside me to chat.  He wanted
    to know ALL about me.  Where did I live?  Did I use computers in my
    work?  Do I ever do outside consulting?  I had the distinct impression
    that he REALLY wanted to know who the hell I was and whether I was
    perhaps an expert digging up useful bits o' information.  I suppose
    the vibes just weren't clear that day.
 
    As Randi has already said, the 1 1/2 days turned into 3 of Randi being
    deposed.  There was no time left to turn the tables.  As things wound
    down on the last day, Paul Kurtz and Barry Karr were there, getting
    ready for their turn the next day.  We stepped into a side room to
    chat about the whole affair.  What a surprise to find Mr. Geller,
    literally ear to the door, every time we looked into the hallway!
 
 
       Chip Denman
       President, National Capital Area Skeptics
          for whom I'm not speaking.
              NCAS  >encourages critical and scientific thinking
                    >serves as an information resource on extraordinary claims
                    >provides extraordinary evidence that skeptics are cool
 
-- 
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