The lawyer of a Hollywood actress has threatened to sue a disabled Maryland veteran who started her own charity. Ginger Miller, president of Women Veterans Interactive (WVI), paid Tasha Smith $12,000 to have the actress be their keynote speaker back on Veterans Day at National Harbor. Smith canceled just days before the event and neither she nor her husband and manager at the time, Keith Douglas, returned the money, even though Miller repeatedly asked for reimbursement from both.
The good news is Douglas has since sent an apology letter to Miller and WVI explaining, “I would never take advantage of you … I take those who serve our country in military very seriously because they have put their lives on the line … accept my sincere apologies for any hurt … If my wife doesn’t step up to the plate and send you the other half, I will be bringing this matter before the judge for full payment.”
But Smith doesn’t appear ready to send the other half. However, her attorney did send a letter to Miller, claiming, “Tasha never received any funds from you, she has never stolen any money … Tasha offered to pay you $3,500 for any costs related to the cancellation.”
The L.A. attorney demands that Miller “retract any prior defamatory statements made about [Smith],” provide a “written confirmation of your agreement,” and threatens, “If you refuse to cease and desist and continue your misconduct Tasha will have no choice but to take legal action.”
Miller, a disabled veteran with PTSD, says the stress from angry voice messages and emails from Smith landed her in the emergency room a few days ago with elevated blood pressure. While she thanked Douglas for sending half the money her organization is due, she would still like the other half.
