Herald sued again
Kolb lays off two remaining Native players

Pamela G. Dempsey and Bill Donovan
Staff Writers

Joseph Kolb

GALLUP — The Albuquerque Publishing Co. has filed a lawsuit against The Gallup Herald seeking more than $27,000 in unpaid printing charges.

Joseph Kolb, publisher for the Gallup Herald, was notified on Dec. 13 of the lawsuit.

David Grammer III, attorney for the Albuquerque Publishing Co., said his office has yet to receive a response to the lawsuit, which was filed on Dec. 2.

This marks the second lawsuit for unpaid printing bills filed in the last year against the Herald.

In July, Intermountain Color Inc. filed a lawsuit against the Herald for more than $60,000 in unpaid printing bills.

According to Intermountain's attorney, Kolb did not respond to that lawsuit either and Intermountain Color was awarded damages in the amount of $61,425 in October.

Cullen Hallmark, Intermountain's attorney, said that Intermountain has yet to recover any of the outstanding charges. A writ of execution has been issued to recover money through property Kolb owns.

Hallmark did say, in August, that his office would be willing to work with Kolb to get the debt paid.

Grammer said the same was true for the Albuquerque Publishing Co.

According to court documents, Kolb accrued a $50,000 printing bill between July and October. Although he made no payments between Aug. 3 and Sept. 11, he has paid almost half of the bill $23,000 the majority of which he paid between Sept. 18 and Oct. 16.

The Albuquerque Publishing Co. is seeking the remainder of the bill, interest and fees.

Kolb also owes the Navajo Times close to $11,000 in printing bills as well.

Tom Arviso, publisher of the Times, said Kolb has not paid any money toward this debt.

On Wednesday, Kolb laid off the last two Native American players on his basketball team, The Gallup Talons.

Matt Vail, one of the players, said that the decision was made to reduce the team from 10 players down to eight to save money.

The team, which was originally billed as being the country's first Native American semi-pro team, now has no Native Americans on its roster.

Vail also said team members were trying to find someone else to sponsor the team. And, according to Vail, when Kolb found out about it, he told the players that he would sell the team for $100,000 to anyone wanting to buy it.

That's what Kolb currently owes three printers, excluding interest.

The Herald was launched in August 2004 as a weekly paper and soon added a Wednesday edition, which has since been discontinued. Kolb could not be reached for comment.