MOBILE, Ala. - A Mobile County circuit judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday regarding whether to dismiss a lawsuit filed in September against the Press-Register, a daily newspaper based in Mobile serving Southwest Alabama and Southeast Mississippi, by Loxley residents Glynis Bethel and Orlando Bethel, for claims alleging defamation, libel and slander, according to court documents.

The lawsuit filed Sept. 29 in Mobile County against the newspaper, its parent company, and many of its employees, publisher and editors, has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Wood. The hearing on the defendants’ motion to dismiss is scheduled for Friday morning, Nov. 19.

The lawsuit’s amended complaint sets out a number of allegations spanning the past two years, claiming defamatory statements made in newspaper articles about the Bethels, with references to exhibits not available at press time.

The lawsuit documents state that “On Nov. 2, 2008, Sunday (Exhibit G) Glynis Bethel made a written demand requesting that a retraction be made, but up until five days before this suit was filed, none was made by the staff and (editor) Michael Marshall emailed her back (Exhibit F) arrogantly stating that no retraction would be made (to paraphrase).”

The Bethels, who have become well known in Baldwin County the past few years for a lawsuit filed against the county board of education and other activities including Orlando Bethel’s unsuccessful run this year for sheriff, are representing themselves in the lawsuit, according to records.

The lawsuit’s language is not that typically seen in local courthouses.

The amended complaint begins: “Comes now Plaintiffs Orlando Bethel and Glynis Bethel filing an Amended Complaint for Defamation and Libel orchestrated by the devil through the Mobile Register, Inc. employees and staff which violates the Alabama Constitution and the laws of this land specifically the articles written were done by ghostwriters in which the identities were hidden which violates the Alabama Constitution 1901 Section 4.”

Glynis Bethel said she runs a program for self-help, or pro se, lawsuits, because of the cost of attorneys and the unwillingness of attorneys to handle some cases.

“I need for Michael Marshall and them to be held accountable and that’s what attorney pro se is all about because the Bible says all liars will burn in the lake of fire and they are composed of liars and they’ve lied on me repeatedly and I’m tired of it,” Bethel said Monday.

The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment, compensatory and punitive damages and a public apology, among other “prayers for relief.”

Responding to a request for comment about the lawsuit and Friday hearing, Archibald Reeves, attorney for the defendants, stated in a Tuesday e-mail that “we do wish to comment about this.”