Local
Metro Weekly sued for more than $1 million
Post-Newsweek lawsuit alleges fraud, seeks damages
Metro Weekly, a local LGBT magazine, is being sued over an alleged $85,000 printing debt by a company owned by Post-Newsweek Media, Inc., the media conglomerate that owns the Washington Post, according to a lawsuit filed July 8 in D.C. Superior Court. The lawsuit also seeks $1 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit, which was first reported by the Washington Business Journal in its Aug. 6, 2010 edition (Vol.29 No.15), alleges that the company that owns Metro Weekly, Jansi LLC, and one of Jansi’s two shareholders, Randy Shulman, are responsible for a five-year-old printing debt with the Gaithersburg, Md., printing firm Comprint, a Post-Newsweek affiliate.
In addition to charging Jansi and Shulman with breach of contract for not paying the printing debt, the lawsuit accuses them of fraud for allegedly entering into a licensing agreement with Isosceles Publishing, Inc., the corporation that owned and operated Metro Weekly up until November 2007, for the alleged purpose of evading debts and liabilities.
“Upon information and belief, Mr. Shulman, Jansi, and Isosceles entered into the 2007 License Agreement with the specific intention to evade Isosceles’ creditors while continuing to publish, and reap revenue from, Metro Weekly,” the lawsuit says. “As a direct result of the defendant’s fraud, plaintiff suffered damages in a sum to be proved at trial but expected to exceed $1,000,000,” the lawsuit states in its request for punitive damages.
“We believe the lawsuit filed against Jansi LLC by Post-Newsweek is wholly without merit,” said William McLain, Jansi’s attorney.
McLain said he could not comment on any further details of the case until he files a response to the lawsuit later this month on behalf of Jansi.
“This story is totally premature for publication, and our responsive pleadings will support our claim that the lawsuit is without merit,” he told the Blade.
Although McLain has yet to file Jansi’s response to the lawsuit, Washington Business Journal quoted him as saying Post-Newsweek was not going to recover its money from Jansi because “it’s just not that corporation’s debt.”
Paul Thayer, the attorney representing Post-Newsweek, said he expects Jansi to argue in its response to the lawsuit that the printing debt was incurred by Isosceles Publishing, Inc., rather than Jansi.
Isosceles and Jansi entered into the licensing agreement in November 2007 in which Isoceles “granted to Jansi the exclusive right to publish Metro Weekly in exchange for a licensing fee,” the lawsuit says.
It says that Shulman disclosed in a deposition taken during a 2009 lawsuit filed by Post-Newsweek against Isosceles, in an earlier effort to collect the printing debt, that “each and every Isosceles employee was transferred to, and was exclusively compensated by, Jansi” after the licensing agreement took effect.
A Superior Court judge issued a judgment in Post-Newsweek’s favor on Dec. 11, 2009, ordering Isosceles Publishing to pay the $85,000 printing bill plus “pre-judgment interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum, dating from Feb. 1, 2009 to the date of judgment” along with court costs.
Thayer said Isoceles had yet to make any payments on the debt since the December judgment.
The July lawsuit argues that Jansi LLC and Shulman should be held responsible for the debt because “there has been a near complete intermingling of corporate funds, staff, and property between Isosceles and Jansi LLC.”
“Mr. Shulman has confirmed that one motive for the License Agreement was a desire to continue publishing Metro Weekly without having the publisher responsible for debts incurred by Isosceles,” the latest lawsuit says.
The lawsuit states that Sean Bugg, Shulman’s business partner, is the second of the two shareholders in Jansi LLC. Bugg is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Washington Business Journal reported in the same story that “nearly $656,000 in federal and state tax liens have been filed against Isosceles,” according to data the newspaper said it gathered.
Public records available from the D.C. Recorder of Deeds, which keeps track of tax liens, show that 21 federal, D.C., or unemployment liens have been filed against Isosceles Publishing between 1996 and 2010. Thirteen are listed as a “U.S. Tax Lien.”
It could not be determined from the Recorder of Deeds docket listing of the Isosceles liens whether they are still pending or have been resolved.
McLain declined to comment on the liens.
The lawsuit states that Isosceles entered into a settlement agreement with Post-Newsweek in June 2005 to pay what at the time was a printing debt of $125,000 incurred “over a period of years.” It says that from 2005 to December 2008, Isosceles made payments totaling $40,000.
“Isosceles failed to make any further payments in accordance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement,” the lawsuit says.
Rehoboth Beach
HISTORIC: Susan Stewart elected Rehoboth’s first out mayor
Thanks LGBTQ supporters and vows to protect city’s small town charm
Residents of Rehoboth Beach elected City Commissioner Susan Stewart with 61% of the vote on Aug. 8, making her the city’s first openly gay mayor.
Stewart beat fellow commissioners Craig Their and Suzanne Goode in the race, as well as newcomer Jake Raak.
The final mayoral vote results were:
- Susan Stewart: 632
- Craig Their: 203
- Suzanne Goode: 177
- William “Jake” Raak: 23
“I’m very grateful because the LGBTQ+ community not only voted for me, but also supported me,” said Stewart.
Stewart said that she is particularly grateful for the support she received on social media from members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’ve had incredible support,” said Stewart.
Stewart said that her campaign showed her just how much residents of Rehoboth are engaged and care about the city.
“They really want to see what’s best for the community,” said Stewart.
Stewart spoke about the master planning initiative she has been working on as a commissioner, which she plans to continue as mayor.
“We’ve undertaken rewriting the commercial zoning code, and that’s foundational to the next step of the initiative,” said Stewart.
She said that she was proud of the results of charette week that was held last month where residents and business owners had the opportunity to speak with hired urban planners to give feedback for a zoning code update.
Stewart said that Rehoboth is at a tipping point as the city must find a way to balance the growth of the commercial district while improving the quality of life for residents.
“I don’t believe there needs to be tension between the business community and the residential experience,” said Stewart.
“I’m excited about a new master plan because we have a couple hotels coming, and we also have Clear Space Theatre looking for a new home, and we’re working with them,” said Stewart. “We want businesses to stay here.”
Stewart also said that she aims to embrace the concept of a ‘15-minute city,’ making the city much more accessible in terms of transportation in the downtown area for residents.
“The goal is to protect the small town charm and natural beauty of Rehoboth,” said Stewart. “I want to keep the momentum going.”
The Blade asked Stewart about any concerns she might have working with Commissioner Goode, whom she has criticized for sending inappropriate and offensive emails to city staff. Goode finished a distant third in the mayoral race and her husband fell short in his bid for a Commissioner’s seat. In that race, Jeffrey Goode received 239 votes; Patrick Gossett, who’s gay, received 813 votes and Mark Saunders 852. Saunders and Gossett will be sworn in next month.
“I’m really eager to move past this issue with Commissioner Goode,” said Stewart.
She said that she’s heard ‘loud and clear’ from the city that they want to move past this situation as best as they can while Goode remains in her seat as commissioner.
“There are no mechanisms for us to remove a sitting commissioner. Our laws don’t allow it,” said Stewart.
Stewart clarified that she has always focused on Goode’s behavior toward city staff.
“One thing I feel really passionate about is that the city employees have to know that they are heard. They are real people with real jobs, real professional reputations, and they’ve been harmed,” said Stewart.
The Blade also asked if Stewart had made a final decision on whom she plans to nominate to fill her Commissioner seat.
“I’m considering who to appoint and I have not made any final decisions,” said Stewart.
She noted that, as mayor, she only has the power to nominate a candidate and that the board of commissioners will have the final vote on whom to appoint to the board.
Stewart shared that she has received interest from a number of people and finds that to be a good sign.
“I think that’s a great sign because people want to serve. I’m eager to have someone in that seat who’s smart and has the best interests of the city,” said Stewart.
Stewart will be sworn in during the Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 18.
District of Columbia
D.C.’s Mary’s House For Older Adults names new executive director
Charlene Leach to succeed Imani Woody as leader of LGBTQ-supportive seniors home
The board of directors of Mary’s House for Older Adults, the D.C.-based home dedicated to providing affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors, has announced it has named longtime nonprofit organization leader A. Charlene Leach as its new executive director.
Leach, who is now serving in the executive director’s position, is succeeding Dr. Imani Woody, the Mary’s House founding president and CEO, who announced her retirement from her official leadership role at Mary’s House on July 7.
Woody, who holds a PhD in Human Services, is credited with playing the lead role over many years in arranging both city and private funding needed to construct and operate the Mary’s House three-story building located at 401 Anacostia Road, S.E., in the city’s Fort DuPont neighborhood.
“With over three decades of nonprofit experience and 15 years serving as an executive director, Charlene brings a wealth of knowledge in organizational leadership, program development, and community engagement,” the Mary’s House board says in a statement.
“Her proven track record of building impactful programs and leading mission-driven organizations makes her uniquely suited to guide Mary’s House into its next phase of growth,” the statement continues. “Charlene is deeply aligned with the mission of Mary’s House and is committed to advancing its work to provide safe, inclusive housing and supportive services for LGBTQ+ older adults,” it says. “Under her leadership, the organization will continue to expand its impact while remaining grounded in the values that define our community.”
Leach’s LinkedIn page shows she has most recently served since 2022 as executive director of the African American AIDS Task Force in Minneapolis. Prior to that, it shows she served as executive director of the Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services organization in Fredericksburg, Va., and before that as director of development for the D.C.-Baltimore area Women’s Collective.
Her LinkedIn page says she has been involved with Mary’s House as a volunteer and grant writer since 2016.
The newly built and enlarged Mary’s House, which opened in March 2025, with a grand opening ceremony held in May 2025 attended by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, includes 15 single-occupancy residential apartments and more than 5,000 square feet of shared communal living space.
An earlier statement released by the Mary’s House board announcing Woody’s retirement said Woody would continue to be involved with the organization as a member of the board. The earlier statement and board’s more recent statement on July 29 announcing Leach’s appointment as executive director did not say whether the board plans to name someone else as president and CEO, the title that Woody held before her retirement. But the latest statement says Leach will be running Mary’s House’s day-to-day operations as Woody did.
Virginia
Doug Ollivant to face Eugene Vindman in Va. 7th Congressional District
Republican defeated challengers in Tuesday’s primary
Republican Doug Ollivant will face off against incumbent U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
Ollivant defeated his Republican opponents in Tuesday’s primary. Vindman ran unopposed.
Vindman in 2024 ran to succeed then-Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the U.S. House of Representatives after she ran for governor. Spanberger succeeded Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2025.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Tuesday easily won his primary. All other Democratic incumbent members of Congress from Northern Virginia also won their respective primaries.
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Todd Blanche’s record on LGBTQ issues comes under scrutiny as he takes over DOJ
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