I've been out of the lindy scene for a while and all I can say is that Mark, Melissa and the Venues (i.e. Century Ballroom, Lindy Bout) need better and more legal advice and should handle this better than what I see. I don't know Melissa and barely know Mark but they and the community are totally mishandling this.

Contrary to popular belief, the legal system does have better solutions for all then this unsatisfactory flare-up on facebook and the rumour mill that threatens to destroy an arts/music community that provides a valuable public service.

I don't practice law in Washinton State but it seems to me that Mark's own internet account in writing may have confirmed the behaviour he admittedly describes as true and thus nullified the civil statute of limitations. Accordingly, even though it was more than 12 years ago, the victim may have a case MAYBE for monetary damages from battery or negligent body contact causing personal injury including psychological harm. This is without her having to prove her account versus his account which will be hard.

I doubt the criminal justice system can do anything and unless similar cases arise as in the Cosby situation, there is not sufficient evidence to prove the drugging allegation by a civil or criminal standard. But there is enough in Mark's admission and it's recent enough for Melissa to at least get a lawyer to look at her case from a civil justice/personal injury angle. Hopefully, she can get satisfaction through that process without crashing the community on the internet.

The organizers of the venues need to have stronger policies to prevent in the future the sort of risky, drunken parties that everyone on all sides admits happened.

There are formal and informal mediations procedures in the civil justice system to resolve the concerns of the accused and accuser without a full blown public trial.

I urge them both to speak to an attorney experienced in injury tort law ASAP.

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