It was widely reported yesterday that Warren St. John, author of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, is being sued over the use of a picture of a green R.V. called "The Toad" on the cover of the paperback edition of the book.
Ron St. John, who is no relation to Warren, reportedly is the owner of "The Toad" and the plaintiff in the suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Now a new wrinkle has been added to this story. There is a website devoted to "The Toad," which purports to have been established by Ron St. John.
The site features a large picture of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer---complete with the photograph of "The Toad" on the cover---on its entry portal.
The site also offers links from which to purchase Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer.
The site also contains a description of how "The Toad" made it onto the cover of the book.
The author of the website describes the sequence of events as follows:
For this, I am very honored. On top of that, then he tells me that "THE TOAD" could go on the road to help promote the book. I look forward to the challenge and to the adventure that this experience will provide.
Naturally, I cannot say for certain that the plaintiff in the lawsuit against Warren St. John is, in fact, the same man who maintains this website. I would encourage you to visit the "Toad" tribute site and judge for yourself.
If you believe it to be genuine, you should consider the passage quoted above and decide on your own whether you believe it can be reconciled with these excerpts from the federal case against Warren St. John, as quoted by Gawker:
19. The emotional distress that Defendant(s) caused Plaintiff to suffer was so severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it. . . .
28. Plaintiff as a proximate consequence of said invasion of Plaintiff's privacy was caused to suffer the following injuries and damages, to-wit: Plaintiff's RV "The Toad" is no longer a signature that uniquely identifies Plaintiff with Crimson Tide [f]ans . . .
I report, you decide.
Go 'Dawgs!