Buckingham Township Supervisor Jon Forest has publicly apologized and agreed to pay $65,000 to settle a defamation lawsuit over a campaign flyer he sent during the 2023 supervisor race that made false claims about Froehlich's Farm.

Forest, vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors, posted the apology to his 2023 campaign Facebook page and distributed it to the same households in the Devonshire neighborhood that received the original flyer. The Bucks County Beacon reported the apology was issued Aug. 10.

The settlement required the distribution. The flyer, titled "Update: Froehlich's Illegal Mulching Operation An Unfortunate Political Turn," went to about 135 Republican households in 2023. Chip Froehlich of Froehlich's Farm & Garden Inc. and Brian Stover filed the defamation suit in 2024, alleging defamation, commercial disparagement and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage. The case settled without going to court.

In his written apology, Forest stated he made claims about Froehlich's Farm, and by extension Froehlich and Stover, that were "factually untrue." He stated he accused the farm of corruption and quid pro quo behavior based on conversations that never happened.

Forest also retracted a claim that fellow Supervisor Mike Bateman attended an Aug. 31, 2023, hearing to support Froehlich's Farm in exchange for electoral support. He stated neither Bateman nor anyone from the farm ever made such statements.

Bateman, who was not a party to the lawsuit but was named in the flyer, responded to the completed apology. As reported by Patch, Bateman said he is "glad that Jon has publicly corrected the record regarding the 2023 election."

"The truth matters, particularly in a small community where words can have a lasting impact on our neighbors and their reputations," Bateman said in the statement.

Forest has served as a Buckingham supervisor since 2006 and also holds the position of township constable. He is co-owner of Buckingham Valley Vineyards. Froehlich's Farm has operated in Buckingham Township for more than 50 years.

Bateman lost to Forest in the 2023 race but won the 2025 supervisor contest against two-term incumbent Republican Paul Calderaio.

Calls have grown on the Buckingham Democrats Facebook page for Forest to resign from all elected township positions. Buckingham Democrats urged residents to attend the Wednesday, Aug. 26, supervisors meeting. No coverage of that meeting's outcome is available as of publication.

The Bucks County Beacon reported that an effort to reach Forest for comment was unsuccessful.