Fundraiser Held to Help City Paper Fight Dan Snyder

WASHINGTON - A very life-like pinata of Redskins owner Dan Snyder hanging from an Adam's Morgan bar caused a lot of people to do a double take on April Fool's Day.

But it was no laughing matter for the Washington City Paper.

Snyder is suing the paper over its coverage of him. The pinata was the main draw for a fundraiser at Madam's Organ to help the paper fight back.

"Two million dollars is nothing to Dan Snyder, but it could put this paper out of business and take jobs with it,"Bill Duggan, Madam's Organ owner says. It was his idea to hold the event to try and pump up the paper's legal coffers.

"We stand by our article,"Managing Editor Mike Madden says of Author Dave McKenna's article from last November. It was called "Cranky Redskins Fans Guide to Dan Snyder." In the article it alleges, that Snyder bragged that his wealth was thanks to diabetes and cancer victims, and that Snyder was "tossed" off the board of Six Flags.

"We offered him a chance to respond in writing, he chose to file a lawsuit instead," Madden said.

Nick Fera was the first in line to take a swipe at the Snyder pinata. He nearly knocked the leg right off of it.

"He deserves it," Fera says. "How can he file a lawsuit when the article's true?"

Snyder's Public Relations Firm had no comment about the lawsuit.

The fundraiser also included a silent auction of Redskins memorabilia, a trip to Costa Rica, and more.

Duggan is hoping others step up to help the paper.

"Dan Snyder chose to file the lawsuit in New York because he doesn't want this to be a local issue, but it is a local issue, and we have to make sure people know how heartless this man is," Duggan says.