Paula Gaughan

While I am so disappointed, I am not surprised. Given the climate in this country of overspending, no accountability and no transparency, why should the NCHA be any different?

I feel we accomplished some goals. We did shed a light on some salaries and bonuses, or however it is that they sometimes lump them together and divide them. And I would say we definitely proved that they have lots to hide or else why go to all the trouble and expense?

Please do not believe it when they say that it is because of the cattle contracts, because we did not want them. This is another ditch now to cross as I do not want to stop until every member has the right to know their association. This is really all about every member’s rights, no matter how the NCHA or anyone else tries to spin it.

Thanks for all the support I have received. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Keith Deaville

National Cutting Horse Association President Keith Deaville issued the following statement to all NCHA directors about the Second District Court of Appeals decision issued Thursday, July 28, regarding the Paula Gaughan and Dean Sanders lawsuit against the association.

I am pleased to provide you with the following report on the Judgment and Opinion recently entered by the Fort Worth Court of Appeals in the case filed against the NCHA by Paula Gaughan and Dean Sanders.

The Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth has affirmed the Judgment entered by the trial court in this case on November 17, 2009, finding in favor of the NCHA on all claims made against it by Paula Gaughan and Dean Sanders. As you may recall, the trial court Judgment provides that: (1) the NCHA fully complied with all of Plaintiffs’ requests to review records of the Association and fully complied with all legal requirements relating to Plaintiffs’ requests; (2) the records of the NCHA marked as “Confidential” in accordance with the terms of the Protective Order entered by the trial court are entitled to be treated as confidential; (3) Plaintiffs and their counsel shall not disclose, disseminate or reveal any of the records marked as “Confidential” by the NCHA, or the contents of such records, to any third party; and (4) the NCHA is entitled to recover from Gaughan and Sanders, jointly and severally, its reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees. The Court of Appeals’ Opinion affirms that judgment on all issues.

The Association is very pleased with the Court of Appeals’ affirmance of the trial court’s judgment. We believe that this court ruling confirms that the NCHA’s policies are enforceable and that it acted properly in responding to all requests made by the Plaintiffs in this matter. We will continue to keep you updated on any further developments in this case.