The Leslie Brodie Report Launches Journalistic Inquiry to Examine Allegations Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese Had Bribed California’s Ex-Chief Justice Ronald George

Amid conflicting reports, suspicious circumstances and vexing question, The Leslie Brodie Report has launched a journalistic inquiry into the unsettling relationship between Tom Girardi of Girardi & Keese, Eric George, and former Chief Justice of the State of California – Ronald George.

More specifically, The Leslie Brodie Report will examine events surrounding the matter of In Re Girardi, the enmeshment between Eric George and Tom Girardi in various class-actions, as well as matters relating to injustices Ronald George had inflicted on Tom Girardi’s nemesis – Ronald Gottschalk.

Gottschalk, an accomplished attorney with a stellar record who served as Girardi’s co-counsel in class-action litigation, has been the victim of grave injustices and systemic abuses from various local and state entities ever since his relationship with Girardi soured.

Pictured above is Judge McElroy, who is either unwilling or unable to recognize the seriousness of her anti-social behaviour. Her involvement in the “Bribing Pat” saga alerted TLR, McElroy’s integrity is amiss. (Photo: Courtesy of Bar Journal.)

Specifically, Gottschalk and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi were co-counsel representing plaintiffs in various actions. Once a dispute erupted between Gottschalk and Girardi, the State Bar of California came knocking on Gottschalk’s door. 

However, realizing that the evidence against Gottschalk is weak and not credible at the extreme, the State Bar of California obtained a default judgment against Gottschalk during a time period which the State Bar knew Mr. Gottschalk was unavailable. Participating in the scheme against Gottschalk were Mr. Paul O’Brien from the Office of Chief Trial Counsel and Judge Patrice McElroy.

Gottschalk’s lawyer– Mr. Stanley Arouty– submitted a sworn statement to the California Supreme Court accusing McElroy of intentionally destroying an audio tape which serves as the official court record. (See excerpts from Arouty’s declaration above)

Shockingly, however, despite the close personal relationship between Ronald George, Tom Girardi, and Eric George, once the California Supreme Court was asked to review the Matter of Gottschalk, then Chief-Justice Ronald George did not recuse himself while ruling to disbar Gottschalk.

See generally @  http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=0&doc…

This despite the questionable ethics of Judge Patrice McElroy of the State Bar Court.  As mentioned previously, during a hearing presided over by McElroy, she disclosed that Peter G. Keane — who was then Dean of Golden Gate University School of Law and was representing an adverse witness (Ms. Sara E. Raymond) — had been her supervisor when she was previously employed as an assistant Public Defender.

However, Judge McElroy failed to disclose that at or about the time the hearing in question was taking place, she accepted as a gift from Mr. Keane an overseas trip.

Even more troubling is the fact that at or about the time the trip took place, Golden Gate University and the student in question were in the midst of litigating a civil case the student had filed in San Francisco Superior Court.

In yet another instance, McElroy’s penchant for destroying the official records of her own courtroom also manifested itself during the proceedings against Respondent Khanna.

Feeling victimized, Mr. Khanna advanced an action against McElroy in federal court. Below is part of an order authored by Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen. The order alluded to the alleged destruction of the court official record.

In yet another instance of McElroy’s misconduct is the case of William G. Wells. In addition to McElroy’s complete disregard to a specific and detailed order issued by Judge JoAnn Remke– the presiding judge of the court.

McElroy’s was accused of being biased and hostile. Below is an excerpt of pleadings prepared by attorneys from the firm of Christa & Jackson which represents Mr. Wells

The enmeshment between Thomas Girardi and the State Bar of California and others has been the subject of extensive coverage on TLR in connection with former crack addict Mike Nisperos ; BOG public member Jeannine English; State Bar of California Investigator Tom Layton; State Bar of California Executive Director Joe Dunn; allegations of preferential treatment leveled by ethics specialist David Cameron Carr; the attorney-client relationship between Howard Rice and Girardi & Keese; matters relating to the MGA/ Mattel litigation; as well as allegations involving conflicts of interest involving the case of Fogel v. Farmers.