The Elliott Building, 1530 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814. The building is owned by Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Properly Group.  Currently, the Elliott Building is occupied on separate floors by the offices of Howard Dickstein of Dickstein & Zerbi, Fulcrum Property’s Mark Friedman, Arlen Opper, Doug Elmets, Paula Lorenzo of Cache Creek Casino, and The California Tribal Business Alliance (CTBA). Dickstein, Friedman, and Opper were all named defendants in the matter of Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians / Cache Creek Casino v. Howard Dickstein. The penthouse unit is the official residence of California’s first couple — Governor Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown, Jr.  and his wife. (Image: courtesy photo)

The abuse and financial atrocities by attorney Howard Dickstein (on behalf of himself, as well as others) against his clients — Native Americans who are members of various Indian tribes operating casinos in the State of California — is well documented.

Hit hard were the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation which operates the Cache Creek Casino in Yolo County, the Pala Band of Mission Indians which operates the Pala Casino Resort & Spa in San Diego County, and the United Auburn Indian Community which operates the Thunder Valley Casino in Placer County.

One such incident resulted in the emotionally distressing injustice inflicted on the bona fide founder of Thunder Valley Casino, the ex-chair of the tribe, Jessica Tavares.

Jessica is a proud visionary who was the force behind the economic and cultural revival of the tribe — as well as the revival of surrounding communities.  Sadly, Jessica was ultimately betrayed by a fellow member of the tribe and placed on the proverbial iceberg because she chose honor, integrity, and dignity for herself and for the tribe over the greed and divisiveness promoted by Howard Dickstein in his quest to obtained millions for himself and by extension for his wife,  Jeannine English.

Since 2006, Jeannine English has served as a “public member” of the State Bar of California Board of Governors, an otherwise governmental entity primarily responsible to disciplining errant lawyers.  Despite allegations that Dickstein has committed countless acts of grave misconduct and ethical breaches, Dickstein has never been disciplined by the State Bar of California.  English’s appointment as a public member was courtesy of her California Democratic Party confederates who control California’s legislative branch.

Unfortunately, the two U.S. Senators from California refuse to become involved in these issues despite the fact that  tribal matters fall primarily within federal oversight. Dickstein, in his role as counsel for the tribes, has overseen the tribes’ contributions of millions of dollars to the coffers of the Democratic Party.

Fortunately, Republican Arizona Senator John McCain recently stepped in and called for an investigation of Howard Dickstein.  Similarly, a few months prior to Senator McCain’s announcement, a Yolo County-based rabbi asked the State Bar of California Board of Governors to investigate English and Dickstein.

The J Street Gang of Greed

In approximately 2004, as part of an effort to revitalize its downtown area, the city of Sacramento poured three million dollars into subsidies for the renovation of the “Elliott Building” located at 1530 J Street in Sacramento.  The project was initiated by Mark Friedman of Sacramento-based Fulcrum Property Group and a few of his business partners.

(L-R) California Governor Jerry Brown, Howard Dickstein of Dickstein & Zerbi, Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Property and Doug Elmets (Image:courtesy photos)

Friedman, a man of despicable character, may be a stranger to readers, but he is no stranger to The Leslie Brodie Report given that he was one of the  named defendants in the case of Rumsey vs. Dickstein, which deals primarily with allegations of years of fraud and deceit by Dickstein against his client, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

One example of such a scheme allegedly perpetrated by Dickstein and Friedman against the tribe deals with a parcel of land situated in West-Sacramento  known as “The Triangle,” an otherwise prime location facing the Sacramento River.

The tribe was urged by defendants Dickstein and its financial advisor Arlen Opper to enter into yet another business relationship with Friedman, through which a parcel of land in “The Triangle” was purchased.  The tribe would own 50% and Friedman and his extended would own 50% of the property.

At one point, Mark Friedman asked the tribe for a favor (or as he put it, an “accommodation”), by which the tribe would sell and Friedman would purchase the tribe’s 50% share in “The Triangle.”

Friedman’s excuse  for seeking the “accommodation” was very simple — he wanted to reduce the amount of money he would  owe the Internal Revenue Service.  Friedman had just sold a different piece of real estate, and  needed to quickly invest the money in real estate (or as he referred to it, to “park” the money ) in a separate property for a period of several years as is allowed by IRS rules; at the period, the tribe would be allowed to buy the property back for the same price for which it was sold to Friedman per a “buy back option.”

Dickstein and Opper recommended that the tribe “accommodate” Friedman, and Friedman consequently purchased the property from the tribe.

Per their written agreement, the tribe was given the option to buy back the property within one year.  However, the tribe did not buy back the property within one as  a result of a failure by Arlen Opper and Howard Dickstein — the attorney for the tribe who was in possession of the written agreement — to inform the tribe when the time period expired so that the tribe could buy back the property.  Notably, the property had increased in value “exponentially” during this period.

Later,  after the “buy back option” had expired, the tribe realized that it had missed the deadline to buy back its 50% share of the property, and sought to do so at that time.  However, Mark Friedman refused to sell it back, claiming that the tribe had missed its deadline.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva Bobb was elevated to the Superior Court in 1994.  In 1998 she moved to family law and served as Supervising Judge of both the family law department (2000-2004) and the probate department (2005-2009), where she presided over many high-profile and celebrity cases.

In 2005, it became wildly known that investigative reporters from the Los Angeles Times various alleged improprieties.  Indeed, the Los Angeles Times would later publish a series of articles “GUARDIANS FOR PROFIT.” 

Please see @

http://articles.latimes.com/2005/nov/16/local/me-will16

AND @:

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-conserve14nov14,0,1488986,full.story

AND @:

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-conserve15nov15,0,2739791.story

Yet, despite the countless controversies surrounding Bobb, in 2005 she received the Benjamin Aranda III Access to Justice Award honoring the longtime advocate of fairness and access in the state’s family courts. Bobb accepted the award from California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George during a September 10 luncheon at the Statewide Judicial Branch Conference. 

The award was co-sponsored by the Judicial Council, the California State Bar, and the California Judges Association, in association with the California Commission on Access to Justice.

The highly controversial Aviva Bobb — who admires Ronald George, and vise versa –   was also the subject of a flattering article published by Diane Curtis of the California Bar Journal. 

Please see @: http://archive.calbar.ca.gov/Archive.aspx?articleId=72389&categoryId=7230…

Bobb, who is also known for playing the violin with the Los Angeles Lawyers Philharmonic Orchestra,is rumored to be one of George’s favorite violinist.

According to the California Bar Journal, during the State Bar’s annual meeting in Monterey, Girardi & Keese and Thomas Girardi had  the Los Angeles Lawyers Philharmonic Orchestra, along with singer-songwriter Paul Anka, flown in to perform at a special reception for retiring Chief Justice Ronald George.

Please see @: http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/09/30/muslim-community-of-orange-county-m…

The Senate Rules Committee yesterday unanimously approved Jayne Kim’s nomination to a four-year term as chief trial counsel of the State Bar, a spokesperson said.

Kim, 43, has served as interim chief trial counsel since September. The State Bar said prosecutors had eliminated a long-running investigatory backlog of complaints over six months old, a source of legislative criticism of the office before she took over.

At the end of 2010, there were more than 1,200 active investigations pertaining to complaints six months old or older. By the end of 2011, there were eight, all of which were in the hands of outside examiners, the State Bar said.

The State Bar reported that at the end of 2010, there were 822 such post-investigation complaints more than six months old. By the end of 2011, that number was reduced to a historic low of 188.

Senate President Pro Tem and Rules Committee Chairman Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, commended Kim for the progress her office has made on a problem that had plagued the bar for decades, the State Bar reported

State Bar President Jon Streeter, who testified on behalf of Kim at today’s confirmation hearing, described Kim in remarks distributed by the State Bar as “a true professional.”

Please continue @:

http://www.metnews.com/articles/2012/kim052412.htm

Separately, the State Bar of California is continuing to deny it has received a formal ethics complaint against its own executive director Joe Dunn — creator of online publication “Voice of OC.”

The complaint alleged that a request to produce Voice of OC’s tax returns has been ignored, despite the clear mandate by the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service to fully comply with such requests.  As such, the failure of Senator Dunn to comply with the law, as well as his utter and complete indifference to the law of the land, mandates that discipline be imposed.

Moreover, and according to the complaint, the fact that Senator Dunn is the Executive Director of the State Bar of California should only serve as a factor for enhanced discipline, as his conduct should be beyond reproach and he should fully comply with all laws and regulations. This is particularly true because those documents were sought as part of an inquiry into circumstances involving a charity known as CaliforniaALL, in the context of events surrounding Voice of OC.

The State Bar of California, which controls and operates the California Bar Foundation, quietly transferred $780,000 to CaliforniaALL, a charitable entity created by former BOG member Ruthe Catolico Ashley. CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns.

Likewise, the Foundation never acknowledged this transfer to CaliforniaALL — the largest grant it ever bestowed — via publications issued by its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where Senator Dunn serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. That month, Senator Dunn publicly launched his online publication, ” Voice of OC.” Public sources have stated that the Voice of OC was financed by various foundations, unions, and the like.

Events surrounding the State Bar of California, California Bar Foundation, CaliforniaALL, Voice of OC, and UCI Foundation, as well as the fact that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL (i.e. Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac and Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in his capacity as BOD member of Cal Bar Foundation, as well as BOG members who voted to endorse CaliforniaALL) were also involved with the creation of Voice of OC (Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi ) created the appearance of suspicious activities that funds were misappropriated by Voice of OC, vis-a-vis CaliforniaALL.

Additionally, the belief is heightened given various events’ proximity in time — as noted above, Ruthe Ashley left CaliforniaALL in the same month Mr. Dunn launched “Voice of OC” (as though her mission had been completed).

Moreover, the recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” ( as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences), the refusal of SAL-UCI to disclose the amount it receive from CaliforniaALL, the simulated RFP, and CaliforniaALL’s pre-selection of the UCI Foundation as a recipient of funds only reinforce the suspicion. This is heightened by Mr. Thomas Girardi’s lack of credibility (pursuant to findings made by a panel of federal judges), and the friendship Mr. Dunn shares with Mr. Girardi.

The above is an image of the complaint which was electronically mailed  to the Intake Office of  the State Bar of California, Ms. Jayne Kim as well as to Mr. Robert Hawley.  Below are images of various prior communications between the complainanat and the State Bar of California confirming a new policy by which ethics complaints may be submiited via electronic mail.  For more about the complaint against Voice of OC and  Joe Dunn, please see Here and Here

TLR is closely monitoring the situation and will keep readers apprised of any new developments.

Article placed on platform on January 6, 2012

Howard Dickstein, a widely-known but controversial figure within California’s Tribal Gambling industry, has been named a defendant in a suit seeking unspecified monetary damages. Also named as defendant is Dickstein’s wife, Sacramento-based lobbyist Jeannine English.

The lawsuit alleges that Dickstein and English executed a scheme that caused injury to the Plaintiff, a Southern California resident who claims his privacy and constitutional rights were “egregiously violated.”

Specifically, the suit alleges that in order to camouflage a scheme and make it appear as though it is purely a mundane action by a governmental agency and was not designed to conceal Dickstein’s and English’s own acts of malfeasance, greed, and betrayal, defendants resorted to abusing their considerable “political and legal clout.”

This clout was presumably obtained as a result of the funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars from myriad Tribal Casinos to various state and local governmental agencies/officials, as well as from English’s position as a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors, and the fact that the president of the State Bar of California, Jon Streeter, and his firm of Keker & Van Nest, represent Howard Dickstein. This , the plaintiff alleges, shows “malice and oppression” on the part of defendants sufficient to justify an award of punitive damages.

Dickstein , who is no stranger to litigation, has been previously named a defendant in a suit advanced by his client, members of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nations (formerly known as the Ramsey Band of Wintun Indians), which owns and operates the Cache Creek Casino in Brooks, California, an unincorporated community in Yolo County.

In that action, the plaintiffs — who were represented by Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy and legal ethics expert Michael Boli — alleged that Dickstein engaged in myriad fraudulent conduct, concealment, conversion (i.e. a non-criminal term referring to the act of theft), breaches of fiduciary duties, misrepresentations, and unjustly enriching himself with tribal money by defrauding the tribe of millions of dollars over more than a decade.

While the suit was pending, further allegations of grave misconduct were leveled against Dickstein and his attorneys of San Francisco-based Keker & Van Nest including claims that evidence was “manufactured.” Later, Dickstein and his lawyers of Keker & Van Nest (presumably, John Keker, Elliot Peters, and Jon Streeter) falsely advertised and misled the public into believing that the Yocha Dehe tribe had only sued Dickstein for conduct which was “negligent” in nature. Dickstein and his legal team neglected to reference the allegations of defrauding the tribe of millions of dollars over more than a decade through fraudulent conduct, concealment, conversion, breaches of fiduciary duties, and misrepresentations which the tribe had leveled against their own attorney.

In nearby Placer County, situated between the cities of Roseville and Lincoln, 50 miles east of Yolo County, where the United Auburn Indian Community operates the Thunder Valley Casino, allegations of greed and betrayal were also leveled against Howard Dickstein by the former chairwoman of the United Auburn Indian Community, the Honorable Jessica Tavares and long-time tribal council member Dolly Suehead.

According to media reports, Tribal Administrator Greg Baker — a Dickstein confederate — disallowed a tribe-funded mailing of a campaign mailer that claims the United Auburn Indian Community has been “bamboozled by an attorney [Howard Dickstein] more interested in filling his garage with Ferraris than serving the interest of our tribe, and the greed of a tribal council that rubber stamps his decision and no longer looks after our best interests.”

Baker, who as it turned out was involved in a separate and unrelated financial scheme, was recently suspended following on the heels of an IRS investigation into allegations of fraud and money-laundering. In affidavits filed by an IRS investigator, it was alleged that Baker was part of a scheme to over-bill the casino/tribe by more than $18 million, which would later be “kicked-back.”

Roman Porter — a long time ally and confederate of California Democratic Party operative Joseph Dunn of embattled online publication Voice of OC who now serves as the executive director of the State Bar of California — was recently hired as Thunder Valley Casino’s new tribal administrator.

Gary MacDonald, Raoul Kennedy and Thomas Nolan of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom are hereby asked to disclose reason Skadden Arps’ Alec Chang serves as both member of State Bar of California Board of Governors/Trustees and the California Bar Foundation.

(L-R) Messrs. Gary MacDonald, Raoul Kennedy and  “Champion of Justice” Thomas Nolan (AKA Wayne Gretsky) of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP.   (Image:courtesy photos)

Roster of California Bar Foundation, please see @:

http://calbarfoundation.org/about/board.html

Roster of State Bar of California Board of Governors, please see @:

http://www.calbar.ca.gov/AboutUs/BoardofTrustees/Roster.aspx

Please see article Re Keker/Justice Kathryn Werdegar @:

lesliebrodie.posterous.com/in-prince-v-pacific-gas-electric-company-just

Addendum to Howard Dickstein / Dave Rosenberg  Ties In Re Seeking to Crucify Rabbi of Yolo County Who Exposed Corruption Re: Fogel vs. Farmers, Ninth Circuit’s In Re Girardi, Jeannine English, CaliforniaALL, Joe Dunn, Voice of OC, CCPF, UC Davis’s Sarah Granda)

Articles Re Yoloan Rabbi (“YR”)  exposing corruption:

Jeannine English,spouse of Howard Dickstein, who serves as “public member” of State Bar of California Board of Governors primarily to ensure that Howard Dickstein will not be disciplined by the agency, please see @

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/07/12/state-bar-of-california-board-of-go…

AND

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/06/14/state-bar-of-california-board-of-go…

——————————————————————————————————————————-

State Bar of California mishandling of Ninth Circuit disciplinary matter of In Re Girardi, please see@:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/03/29/arnold-porter-s-douglas-winthrop-in…

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Fogel vs. Farmers Group, Inc, please see @

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/04/05/ethics-complaint-filed-with-califor…

AND @

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/11/08/fogel-vs-farmers-group-settlement-i…

AND @

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/10/25/austin-texas-based-joe-longley-info…

AND @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/08/17/objection-to-class-action-settlemen…

————————————————————————————————————————————

State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn of  Voice of OC, CaliforniaALL, Geoffrey Brown,  in the myusterious trtansfer of 780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/11/23/voice-of-oc-orange-county-s-nonprof…

——————————————————————————————————————————-

CCPF, Judy Johnson and Geoffrey Brown, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/01/02/california-consumer-protection-foun…

——————————————————————————————————————————-

UC davis law student Sarah Granda, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/06/01/californiaall-part-13-c-ethics-comp…

———————————————————————————————————————————–

Summary, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/03/06/in-letter-to-ninth-circuit-judges-c…

The San Diego Union – Tribune – Jul 26, 2003

“She will step into the role that David Rosenberg has played as the governor’s point … at least one Rosenberg ally, prominent tribal attorney Howard Dickstein. “

LSTF_ROSTER.pdf Download this file

As was previously reported, using a law originally enacted to combat the mafia, a Marina Del Rey-based legal scholar recently took the rare step of suing “Bet Tzedek,” a Los Angeles-based Jewish non-profit entity, under the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law (“RICO”).

Also named as part of the alleged racketeering enterprise were banker Alan Rothenberg, David Pasternak, Sandor Samuels, Ronald George, and his son Eric George (who serves as a member of Bet Tzedek’s Board of Directors).

RICO is a federal law that authorizes a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. RICO focuses specifically on racketeering, and it allows for the leaders of a syndicate to be held civilly liable for the crimes that they ordered others to commit or which they assisted in committing.

The lawsuit alleges that various defendants misused Bet Tzedek as vehicle for the purpose of bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and tax-evasion with the intended outcome of siphoning the money into off-shore accounts. According to sources, the various accounts are located in Switzerland and at the Vatican.

Specifically, and in connection with some of Bet Tzedek’s alleged racketeering activities, the suit maintains that Sandor Samuels — CEO and President of Bet Tzedek and former Chief Trial Counsel at embattled Countywide Financial Services — was appointed President and CEO of Bet Tzedek largely due to his working knowledge of how to operate an enterprise which engages in myriad financial crimes.

The suit also asserts that other individuals engaged in racketeering activities, including David Pasternak — a Los-Angeles based “receiver,” as well as an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — who allegedly used Bet Tzedek as forum to meet, collude, and otherwise bribe various judges and lawyers for the purpose of further appointing Pasternak as “receiver.”

The complaint also contains allegations that Ronald George — former Chief Justice of the State of California — unlawfully transferred funds from entities that were under his control (such as the California Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) intended for the CCMS computer system) into various accounts that were specifically maintained in Alan Rothenberg’s bank — 1st Century — a bank which Eric George owns in part. Said funds, as the suit alleges, were later embezzled.

As part of maintaining the scheme, the suit alleges, AOC employees Ronald Overholt and William Vickery were bestowed with various gifts, trips, kickbacks, bribes, excessive salaries, and the like. Similarly, and also as part of guarding the scheme, the suit alleges that defendants, at times, resorted to utilizing the services of Tom Layton — a former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff/Senior State Bar of California investigator — to “illegally gather detrimental dirt” on various individuals who would oppose and/or object to the existence of said arrangements.

According to sources, Layton is part of an ongoing “ambulance chasing” scheme that the Girardi Syndicate operates in San Bernardino County vis-a-vis a satellite office located in San Bernardino and managed by Thomas Girardi’s son-in-law, David Lira.

Additionally, and per the sources, Layton has been previously utilized by the Girardi Syndicate to “assist” Sharon Major Lewis in selecting the names of nominees to be appointed as judges by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and to garner the support of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in endorsing judicial candidate the Girardi Syndicate deemed worthy of such an endorsement.

The suit also alleges that defendant Holly Fujie — an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — engaged in various acts of misconduct while assisting Ronald and Eric George to transfer funds from both the California Bar Foundation (where she serves as vice-president) and the State Bar of California (where she served as a member of a committee responsible for distribution of funds) to Bet Tzedek totaling hundreds of thousand of dollars.

Bet Tzedek is based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1974, and is an affiliated agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Bet Tzedek is the exclusive provider of free legal services to low-income seniors through contracts with the City and County of Los Angeles.

Judy Johnson, whom California governor Jerry Brown recently appointed to a judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court, served as the Executive Director of the State Bar of California.

She also secretly headed a dubious entity known as California Consumer Protection Foundation (“CCPF”) for the past 8-9 years.

During this period, she used her “clout” as the head of the State Bar to arrange for “cy pres” from class action settlements, as well as fines and settlements imposed by the CPUC on utility companies, totaling close to $30 million to be funneled to CCPF, which then forwarded those funds to various other non-profits, and mostly questionable ACORN-like entities located in South Los Angeles — Gwen Moore’s territory.

In 2010 Johnson left the State Bar of California in disgrace after a prolonged embezzlement of close to $800,000 by employee Sharon Pearl was discovered, and after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed State Bar related legislation as a result.

Johnson was recently also the subject of a complaint to the IRS for alleged noncompliance with various laws and regulations. The complaint alleges CCPF and Johnson defrauded and mislead the public by intentionally omitting various data from CCPF’s web-site.  Specifically, data concerting financial transactions between CCPF and an entity known as  Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (“CARS”).  In addition, the complaint also point to various alleged inconsistencies in the reporting of grants from CCPF to CARS.

Ms. Judy Johnson, who after 2 Governors’ vetoes and endless scandals (including financials) was ousted as executive-director of the State Bar of California.  Johnson was part of sham entity CaliforniaALL and also secretly headed CCPF for the past 8-9 years.  During this period, she used her “clout” as the head of the agency to arrange for “cy pres” from class action settlements, as well as fines and settlements imposed by the CPUC on utility companies, totaling close to $30 million to be funneled to CCPF, which then  forwarded those funds to various other non-profits, and mostly questionable ACORN-like entities located in South Los Angeles. As mentioned previously, vexatious and strange  movements of money from CCPF to Michael Shames’ UCAN — entity presently subject of grand-jury investigation in San Diego. See complaint against CCPF to IRS  HERE

CARS is a non-profit entity located in Sacramento, California. It was established and is headed by Rosemary Shahan. In addition to heading her own non-profit entity (CARS), Shahan also serves as an “adviser” to CCPF.  See http://consumerfdn.org/advisors.php

According to sources familiar with the situation, CCPF professes and declares that it lists on its website all the grants it has issued and all the corresponding grantees going back to 2001. When visiting CCPF’s website, one is given the option to search by year or the name of the grantee. A search for grants funneled to CARS yields only 2 results – a grant in 2006 in the amount of $60,000, and another in 2009 in the amount of $7,400.

One can also visit http://consumerfdn.org/granteesList.php for a list of all the grantees. (See also here.)

Each of the above search options yields the same result – to wit, only 2 grants are listed that were made to CARS.  Unfortunately, however, this allegedly is not the case, as CCPF’s own tax returns provide otherwise. For example, page 28 of CCPF’s IRS Form 990 for 2004 lists a $60,000 grant.

This misrepresentation is allegedly the fruit of an unlawful conspiracy between Judy Johnson and Rosemary Shahan, and is very troubling on its face. This is particularly true given that Ms. Shahan, who serves as an adviser to CCPF, and presumably is familiar with the content of the website, should have alerted CCPF that the information presented is inaccurate and false, by omission and otherwise.

In addition, sources allege that various inconsistencies were discovered in connection with two types of grants from CCPF to CARS: the first is the Consumer Auto Advertising Fund (“CAAF”) grant and the second is the Bank of America (“BA1″) grant.

In 2004, CARS reported to the IRS revenues from all sources in the amount of $91,009. (See page 28 of CARS 2004 IRS 990 return.) By comparison, CCPF reported that it had funneled to CARS $60,000 from the CAAF grant, and $61,215 from the BA1 grant.

Also in 2004, CCPF reported a leftover “payable” of $61,212 from the BA1 grant which it holds in reserve for future payment to CARS.

In 2005, CARS reported to the IRS revenues from ALL SOURCES in the amount of only $58,212. (See CARS 2005 IRS 990 returns.)

By comparison, in 2005 CCPF reported funneling $60,000 to CARS out of the CAAF grant. This, according to the sources, already raises a red flag as it shows that CARS under-reported its revenues for 2005 by the difference of $1,788. (See here on page 22.)

Most importantly, however, in 2005 CCPF also reported an additional $48,970 distributed to CARS from the BA1 fund, leaving only $12,242 in reserve as “payable.” (See entry on page 22.)

Unfortunately, the sources maintain, no corresponding reference to the $48,970 was found on CARS’ 2005 tax returns.

CaliforniaALL

During the period that Douglas Winthrop, Holly Fujie of Buchalter Nemer, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster, and ex-CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown were serving as board members for the California Bar Foundation, a highly unusual financial transaction took place in which approximately $780,000 was quietly transferred, causing the California Bar Foundation to end the year in the red.

Upon further examination, it was discovered that the money had been transferred to a newly-created Section 501(c)(3) non-profit entity (headed by a friend of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue — Ruthe Catolico Ashley) known as CaliforniaALL.

Mr. Geoffrey Brown, professor of law at JFK School of Law. Between 2001 to 2007 served as Commissioner with the CPUC. From 2006 to 2009 Brown serve as director with the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA “California Bar Foundation”). In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00 to sham entity CaliforniaALL — which also obtained additional 1.5 Million from utility companies.  In reaction to complainant’s request for an inquiry to the State Bar of California Board of Governors, Brown immediately, as though bitten by a snake, threatened to file legal action even though the communication with the BOG was absolutely privileged and justified, and only made mention of Brown in passing.  Brown is still under extreme scrutiny in matters relating Judy Johnson’s CCPF and the saga known as “Bribing Pat.” (image:courtesy photo)

Ruthe Catolico Ashley came up with the idea to create CaliforniaALL during a meeting with Sarah Redfield and Peter Arth, Jr. (the assistant to CPUC President Michael Peevey).

After CaliforniaALL came into existence, Ms. Ashley, after a simulated search, was selected to serve as CaliforniaALL’s executive director.

Redfield – a visiting professor at McGeorge School of Law and a member of the State Bar of California Committee of Access to Justice — was chosen to serve as the “interim executive director” for CaliforniaALL, and later also allegedly served as a consultant to CaliforniaALL. For her services, Ms. Redfield was paid for the year of 2008 close to $160,000 as an “independent contractor.” Even though CaliforniaALL was housed pro bono at the law offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento, there is an entry on CaliforniaALL’s tax return for close to $16,000 for “occupancy.”

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board. Serving as CaliforniaALL’s legal counsel was Susan Mac Cormac of Morrison & Foerster.

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, donations to CaliforniaALL came primarily from utility companies (including AT&T, Sempra Energy, Verizon, and PG&E). In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million, including an unlawful and unusually large sub rosa contribution of $780,000 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) in 2008.

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in July 2010.

According to Redfield’s resume, between 2008 and 2009 she had  “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception as even documents obtained from  the Santa Ana Unified School District make no mention of  Sarah Redfield in connection with the Saturday Academy of Law at UC Irvine.

Redfield’s resume, below, alleges she had  “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

Additionally, claims by Sarah E. Redfield to the effect that she was part of both the CURRICULUM COMMITTEE and OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE are also false, fraudulent, and were otherwise spun from whole cloth.

While Professor Redfield was part of the Oversight Committee, she was not part of the Curriculum Committee. In fact, the sources maintain that close examination of SAL Curriculum shows that it was similar to the curriculum in the years before CaliforniaALL was even established, with emphasis on exceptions to the First Amendment such as time, place, and manner.

See below, misleading claims by Professor Sarah E. Redfield, which falsely mention Curriculum Committee :

State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of GEM Communications. Both Moore and her mentor — Kamala Harris’ former paramour Willie Brown — were the target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Bribery and Special Interest (BRISPEC) sting operation known as Shrimpscam. On the right is Willie Brown’s “Mentee” Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Previously of Morrison & Foerster. Presently Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. West’s sister-in-law — Willie Brown’s former paramour — is California attorney general who was also part of CaliforniaALL. As previously reported, Morrison & Foerster partners Voice of OC’s James Brosnahan (who represented El Paso Corp during California Energy Crisis), Susan Mac Cormac, Raj Chatterjee, as well as former partners Tony West, Annette Carnegie, Lori Schechter and Dian Grueneich are all under extreme scrutiny by TLR/YR with respect to the unsettling events surrounding CaliforniaALL in connection with former CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown of California Bar Foundation, State Bar of California Executive Director – Voice of OC’s Joe Dunn – who investigated the California Energy Crisis, Voice of OC’s Martha Escutia who also investigated the California Energy Crisis, and Voice of OC’s Thomas Girardi / Pierce O’Donnell who litigated matters relating to the California Energy Crisis opposing James Brosnahan  (Image: courtesy photos)

To date, data collected shows that CaliforniaALL (which was supposed to forward most of those funds) transferred between $300,000 to $400,000 to the UCI Foundation (where Joe Dunn serves as trustee), spent an unknown amount to honor Gwen Moore at a lavish dinner held at a luxury hotel in Sacramento, paid for other incidental expenses such as salaries, and subsequent to moving out from the offices of DLA Piper to a more modest location , paid for a UPS Store mail box slot in Citrus Heights.

Between 2001 and 2007, Geoffrey Brown served as a Commissioner with the CPUC. From 2006 to 2009, Brown served as a director of the State Bar of California Foundation. In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00 to CaliforniaALL. CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the $769,247.00 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

See below Cal Bar Foundation newsroom which makes no mention of the subrosa transfer of funds.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines?” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.”  See below:

Serving on the board of directors of CaliforniaALL (which was in a partnership relationship with the State Bar of California) were State Bar employee Patricia Lee, Kamala Harris, CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon, as well as Judy Johnson, whom California Governor Jerry Brown — cousin of Geoffrey Brown — appointed to a judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court.  See below:

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Judy Johnson to a judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court.

Johnson, 63, of Rodeo, served as the executive director of the State Bar of California from 2000 to 2011 and previously served as chief trial counsel from 1994 to 2000. Johnson was an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office from 1977 to 1994 and an adjunct professor at New College of California School of Law from 1979 to 1984. She served as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Alameda County from 1976 to 1977. Johnson earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Harlan G. Grossman. Johnson is a Democrat.

The compensation for this position is $178,789.

Source:

http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17555

While shareholders queue up for a seat at the annual Bank of America extravaganza on Wednesday and the forces of Occupy get ready to mount major protests, a small group of lawyers plots its own campaign to take on what they call the “predatory mortgage banking cartel.”

They are pained at the lack of real regulatory enforcement actions in the wake of the financial meltdown, and angry about how easy it’s been for the megabanks – B of A, in particular – to “get over” on the American public, continuing a pattern of foreclosure behavior despite tongue-lashings by the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

So, how do they spell relief for this fraud-induced indigestion? R-I-C-O. 

Yes, RICO, that iconic legal strategy developed in the 1970s – one with teeth – that spelled calamity for the bosses of the Genovese and Gambino crime families, restored some semblance of order to mob-run Teamster Local 560 in New Jersey, and sent the immensely popular mayor of Providence Rhode Island, Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, to the can for running his office as a financially self-serving criminal enterprise. But the case that took it beyond the boundaries of common thugdom was RICO’s successful prosecution of Wall Street junk bond peddler, Michael Milken. While controversial, the case emphasized the expansive nature of the statute in pursuing corporate crime, and the fact that RICO provides for both criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for financial damages, has this group of attorneys intrigued.

So, how might B of A qualify as a likely target? It’s definitely an “enterprise,” one of the criteria of a RICO prosecution. According to several lawyers, there’s a pattern of activities, mainly surrounding B of A’s 2008 acquisition of Angelo Mozilo’s Frankenstein, a/k/a Countrywide Financial, that provide potential prosecutorial fodder insofar as securities fraud and consumer protection violations are concerned.

One crusader in this tight-knit group – Dave Angle, a consumer attorney formerly with the Missouri Attorney General’s office – points specifically to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2010 settlement with B of A, where the bank agreed to pay $108 million to settle claims that Countrywide had laid excessive servicing fees on cash-strapped homeowners.

Please continue @:

http://www.americanbanker.com/bankthink/RICO-complaint-MERS-BAC-Countrywide-f…:e10717:2250384a

Originally published on January 6, 2012

The State Bar of California denied it has received a formal ethics complaint against its own executive director Joe Dunn — creator of online publication “Voice of OC.”

The complaint alleged that a request to produce Voice of OC’s tax returns has been ignored, despite the clear mandate by the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service to fully comply with such requests.  As such, the failure of Senator Dunn to comply with the law, as well as his utter and complete indifference to the law of the land, mandates that discipline be imposed.

Moreover, and according to the complaint, the fact that Senator Dunn is the Executive Director of the State Bar of California should only serve as a factor for enhanced discipline, as his conduct should be beyond reproach and he should fully comply with all laws and regulations. This is particularly true because those documents were sought as part of an inquiry into circumstances involving a charity known as CaliforniaALL, in the context of events surrounding Voice of OC.

The State Bar of California, which controls and operates the California Bar Foundation, quietly transferred $780,000 to CaliforniaALL, a charitable entity created by former BOG member Ruthe Catolico Ashley. CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns.

Likewise, the Foundation never acknowledged this transfer to CaliforniaALL — the largest grant it ever bestowed — via publications issued by its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where Senator Dunn serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. That month, Senator Dunn publicly launched his online publication, ” Voice of OC.” Public sources have stated that the Voice of OC was financed by various foundations, unions, and the like.

Events surrounding the State Bar of California, California Bar Foundation, CaliforniaALL, Voice of OC, and UCI Foundation, as well as the fact that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL (i.e. Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac and Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in his capacity as BOD member of Cal Bar Foundation, as well as BOG members who voted to endorse CaliforniaALL) were also involved with the creation of Voice of OC (Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi ) created the appearance of suspicious activities that funds were misappropriated by Voice of OC, vis-a-vis CaliforniaALL.

Additionally, the belief is heightened given various events’ proximity in time — as noted above, Ruthe Ashley left CaliforniaALL in the same month Mr. Dunn launched “Voice of OC” (as though her mission had been completed).

Moreover, the recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” ( as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences), the refusal of SAL-UCI to disclose the amount it receive from CaliforniaALL, the simulated RFP, and CaliforniaALL’s pre-selection of the UCI Foundation as a recipient of funds only reinforce the suspicion. This is heightened by Mr. Thomas Girardi’s lack of credibility (pursuant to findings made by a panel of federal judges), and the friendship Mr. Dunn shares with Mr. Girardi.

The above is an image of the complaint which was electronically mailed  to the Intake Office of  the State Bar of California, Ms. Jayne Kim as well as to Mr. Robert Hawley.  Below are images of various prior communications between the complainanat and the State Bar of California confirming a new policy by which ethics complaints may be submiited via electronic mail.  For more about the complaint against Voice of OC and  Joe Dunn, please see Here and Here

TLR is closely monitoring the situation and will keep readers apprised of any new developments.

Originally published in November of 2011:

Internal Revenue Service
Exempt Organizations Unit
1100 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75242-1198

Re: A referral for noncompliance with tax laws against exempt organization “Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency” (dba “Voice of OC”):

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

In lieu of using IRS Form 13909 (Tax-Exempt Organization Referral Form), please consider this communication a formal complaint (referral) against an Orange County, California not-for-profit entity known as “Orange County Nonprofit Investigative News Agency,” which operates an online publication under the name “Voice of OC” (located at www.voiceofoc.org).

On September 1, 2011, Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency and Voice of OC (collectively, “Voice of OC”) were duly served with a request for production of IRS Form 990, Form 990 Schedule A, and Form 1023. (See Exhibit 1.) To date, this request to produce Voice of OC’s tax returns has been ignored, despite the clear mandate by the Internal Revenue Service to fully comply with such requests within 30 days. As such, reluctantly, the undersigned makes this referral.

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:

1. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as the creator of online publication “Voice of OC” – Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency.

2. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as Trustee of the UCI Foundation (an entity which obtained funds from a separate charitable entity known as CaliforniaALL (FEIN Number 51-0656213).

3. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as Executive Director of the State Bar of California – an entity which also controls and maintains a foundation known as the California Bar Foundation. The California Bar Foundation very quietly transferred close to $780,000 to CaliforniaALL.

4. Mr. Joe Dunn in his role as a politician and business partner of Martha Escutia, who was involved in matters relating to utility companies operating in California.

5. Ms. Gwen Moore – a former Assembly member in the California legislature. Ms. Moore has “clout” over the CPUC and utility companies. Ms. Moore presently serves as a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors; she has previously been the subject of an FBI sting operation.

6. Mr. Geoffrey Brown – a former commissioner with the CPUC and former board member of the California Bar Foundation. During his tenure as a board member of the California Bar Foundation, a hush-hush transfer of $780,000 was made to CaliforniaALL. Subsequent to this transfer, Mr. Brown abruptly quit his position as board member.

7. Mr. Thomas Girardi of Los Angeles-based law firm Girardi & Keese. Mr. Girardi helped Joe Dunn to establish the Voice of OC, and was a member of its board of directors. Recently, he abruptly quit that position. Mr. Girardi is a well-known donor to the Democratic Party and, in particular, to California Senator Barbara Boxer.

8. Mr. Howard Miller of Los Angeles-based law firm Girardi & Keese. Mr. Miller was a member of both the State Bar of California Board of Governors and the California Bar Foundation board of directors when the “hush-hush” transfer of $780,000 from California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL took place.

9. Mr. James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster – Mr. Brosnahan represents utility companies. He – along with Thomas Girardi – helped Mr. Joe Dunn create the Voice of OC, the subject of this complaint. Like Mr. Girardi, Mr. Brosnahan also served as member of Voice of OC’s board of directors, and recently also abruptly quit his position.

10. Ms. Susan Mac Cormac of Morrison & Foerster – Ms. Mac Cormac was part of the legal team that created the legal entity known as CaliforniaALL.

11. Mr. Victor Miramontes – a resident of San Antonio, TX and business partner of former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros. Mr. Miramontes was the chairman of CaliforniaALL.

12. Ms. Ruthe Catolico Ashley – a former employee of McGeorge School of Law who later served as a “Diversity Officer” at CalPERS. Ms. Ashley also served as member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors, and came up with the idea to create CaliforniaALL during a meeting with Sarah Redfield and Peter Arth, Jr. (the assistant to CPUC President Michael Peevey). After CaliforniaALL came into existence, Ms. Ashley, after a simulated search, was selected to serve as CaliforniaALL’s executive director.

13. Ms. Sarah Redfield – a visiting professor at McGeorge School of Law and a member of the State Bar of California Committee. Ms. Redfield was chosen to serve as the “interim executive director” for CaliforniaALL, and later also allegedly served as a consultant to CaliforniaALL. For her services, Ms. Redfield was paid for the year of 2008 close to $160,000 as an “independent contractor.” Even though CaliforniaALL was housed pro bono at the law offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento, there is an entry on CaliforniaALL’s tax return for close to $16,000 for “occupancy.”

14. Ms. Judy Johnson – the former Executive Director of the State Bar of California. For the past 8 years, she has been secretly serving as the president of an entity with a misleading name (“California Consumer Protection Foundation”). This entity absorbed close to $30 million in class action cy pres awards, as well as fines and settlements imposed by the CPUC on utility companies. This entity forwarded those funds to mostly questionable ACORN-like entities. On its website, CCPF claims that it has available information on all grantees going back 10 years. Not so. The information is scattered and extremely difficult to ascertain. In fact, a whole year is missing (2002). During that year, incidentally, CCPF awarded funds to the real ACORN as well as to Eric Moore of Educate LA, who is presumably related to Gwen Moore. Ms. Johnson used her position as executive director of the State Bar of California (which is supposed to supervise and discipline lawyers) as “clout” to obtain cy pres awards from the settlement of class actions prosecuted and defended by countless law firms.

15. Mr. Jeffrey Bleich of Munger Tolles & Olson – presently the U.S. ambassador to Australia and a close friend of President Barack Obama. Mr. Bleich served as member of the BOG when CaliforniaALL was conceived. He is mentioned only in reference because Verizon Communications (which heavily contributed to CaliforniaALL) is a client of Munger Tules & Olson.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive director for a period of 6 months. Serving as CaliforniaALL’s legal counsel was Susan Mac Cormac of Morrison & Foerster.

California Attorney General RCT reflects that CaliforniaALL obtained its “Charity” status on March 14, 2008 (FEIN Number 510656213). The address for CaliforniaALL is listed as 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400, Sacramento, California. This is actually the address of DLA Piper, where CaliforniaALL resided pro bono.
In June 2008, after a “nationwide search” and aided by a pro bono head-hunting firm in its search for a permanent CEO, CaliforniaALL, not surprisingly, hired Ruthe Catolico Ashley as its chief executive officer.

Also not surprisingly, Ruthe Catolico Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL in September 2009 – the same month Joe Dunn launched his non-profit online publication “Voice of OC.”

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June 2010.

CaliforniaALL’s 990 returns for 2008 list Sarah Redfield of Orono, Maine as an “independent contractor.” Her job description is listed as “Program Director.” and she was paid $157,763. It is unknown to the undersigned whether Redfield paid self-employment taxes or any other applicable state income taxes, either in California or Maine. (Incidentally, Redfield falsely states on her resume that she was part of a “curriculum committee” with SAL-UCI, an entity associated with UCI and the UCI Foundation where CaliforniaALL forwarded funds. In addition, Redfield falsely stated that she “launched” SAL-UCI, an entity that was already in existence from 2005.)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub rosa “hush-hush” contribution of $769,247 from the State Bar of California Foundation.

To date, data collected by the undersigned shows that CaliforniaALL (which was supposed to forward most of those funds) transferred between $300,000 to $400,000 to the UCI Foundation (where Joe Dunn serves as trustee), spent an unknown amount to honor Gwen Moore at a lavish dinner held at a luxury hotel in Sacramento, paid for other incidental expenses such as salaries, and subsequent to moving out from the offices of DLA Piper to a more modest location , paid for a UPS Store mail box slot in Citrus Heights. (Later, CaliforniaALL relocated its base to the loft of one Larrisa Parecki in Sacramento.)

Between 2001 and 2007, Geoffrey Brown served as a Commissioner with the CPUC. From 2006 to 2009, Brown served as a director of the State Bar of California Foundation. In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00 to CaliforniaALL. CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the $769,247.00 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Several months ago, the undersigned asked the State Bar of California Board of Governors to examine the suspicious circumstances surrounding CaliforniaALL (i.e. the hush hush transfer, etc.). While simply presenting facts similar to the above, Geoffrey Brown immediately, as though bitten by a snake, threatened to file legal action against the undersigned even though the communication with the BOG was absolutely privileged and justified, and only made mention of Brown in passing.

The undersigned has met Brown casually once or twice, and was highly impressed with his modest and genteel nature. A group conversation transpired and Brown immediately, without even being asked, volunteered to help and assist. This however, can and will not serve to bar the mentioning of his name as part of the overall description of events (such as in this communication). Such tactics would be unfair to the other individuals and the proper administration of justice. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the undersigned possesses not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Brown somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, other than the convenient circumstances described above.

Due to unsettling circumstances involving the State Bar of California (such as the highly secretive control of CCPF by Judy Johnson, the refusal of the State Bar of California to disclose amounts it transfers to Bet Tzedek, a Los Angeles-based entity, the amounts it obtains from “voluntary contributions,” and, in particular, circumstances surrounding CaliforniaALL, Joe Dunn, and the Voice of OC), the undersigned asked Voice of OC to produce its tax returns for the past 3 years.

Specifically, the following circumstances surrounding Voice of OC have caused concerns:

1. Senator Martha Escutia, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications (EU&C) also participated in meetings with the CPUC concerning diversity. She is a founding member of The Senators (Ret.) firm, LLP, as is Joe Dunn.

2. The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent transfer of $769,247.00 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, were also involved in assisting Joe Dunn with the creation of “Voice of OC” to wit – on one hand Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac as legal counsel for CaliforniaALL; Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in his capacity as BOD member of Cal Bar Foundation, as well as BOG members who voted to endorse CaliforniaALL and consider it to have been a partner of the State Bar of California. On the other hand Morrison &Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi as part of helping Joe Dunn with the establishment of Voice of OC.

3. CaliforniaALL was to transfer funds forward. It did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where Joe Dunn serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee. It appears that CaliforniaALL preselected UCI Foundation, making a prior simulated request for proposal (RFP) by Sarah Redfield that led to the grant – a sham process.

4. In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. That same month, Joe Dunn publicly launched his online publication, “Voice of OC.” (as though Ashley’s mission had been completed).

5. The recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” (as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences).

As such, several months ago, on September 1, 2011, the Voice of OC was duly served with a request for production of IRS Form 990, Form 990 Schedule A, and Form 1023. (See Exhibit 1 attached) Additionally, said request was delivered to Joe Dunn.

To date, this request to produce Voice of OC’s tax returns has been ignored, despite the clear mandate by the Internal Revenue Service to fully comply with such requests. As such, reluctantly, the undersigned filed this complaint.

As such, I urge you to investigate this matter to determine whether Voice of OC who ignored the request to produce said tax returns violated IRS rules and regulations. I ask that you impose appropriate sanctions against any and all involved, if supported by the results of your investigation.

Consistent with The Leslie Brodie Report’s commitment to integrity and adherence to the highest level of ethical journalism, and in order to report on both sides of the story, Joseph Zernik is hereby asked to comment on unsettling circiumstances sorroundingO’Melveny & Myers’ David Lash, Bet Tzedek, Holly Fujie, and the State Bar of California.

David Lash is a counsel in O’Melveny’s Los Angeles and Century City offices. He serves as Managing Counsel of the Firm’s public interest and pro bono services, helping the pro bono program become one of the most acclaimed in the country.

David’s experience includes representing and counseling clients on a wide range of issues relating to complex business litigation, including trial and appellate representation, real estate matters, corporate governance, board relations, labor and employment, and all areas of public policy and community relations.

Prior to joining O’Melveny, David was Executive Director of Bet Tzedek.

Board Member,  Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCO); co-chair of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the California State Bar

Community Service,  Bet Tzedek, Board of Directors; State Bar Legal Services Trust Fund Commission; Public Counsel; ACLU Foundation of Southern California; Harriett Buhai Center; UCLA Moot Court Program; member, Jewish Federation Council, Council of Agency and Federation Executives (1994-2003); Jewish Community Relations Committee; Board of Directors, Fairfax LANI (Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative) (1995-2002); Los Angeles Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (1994-2003); Los Angeles County Bar Association, Board of Trustees (2005-2007); Jewish Federation Counsel, Caring for the Needy Committee, Community Involvement Committee; Adjunct Professor of Law, Stanford University School of Law, University of California Irvine School of Law;

As was previously reported, using a law originally enacted to combat the mafia, a Marina Del Rey-based legal scholar recently took the rare step of suing “Bet Tzedek,” a Los Angeles-based Jewish non-profit entity, under the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law (“RICO”).

Also named as part of the alleged racketeering enterprise were banker Alan Rothenberg, David Pasternak, Sandor Samuels, Ronald George, and his son Eric George (who serves as a member of Bet Tzedek’s Board of Directors).

RICO is a federal law that authorizes a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. RICO focuses specifically on racketeering, and it allows for the leaders of a syndicate to be held civilly liable for the crimes that they ordered others to commit or which they assisted in committing.

The lawsuit alleges that various defendants misused Bet Tzedek as vehicle for the purpose of bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and tax-evasion with the intended outcome of siphoning the money into off-shore accounts. According to sources, the various accounts are located in Switzerland and at the Vatican.

Specifically, and in connection with some of Bet Tzedek’s alleged racketeering activities, the suit maintains that Sandor Samuels — CEO and President of Bet Tzedek and former Chief Trial Counsel at embattled Countywide Financial Services — was appointed President and CEO of Bet Tzedek largely due to his working knowledge of how to operate an enterprise which engages in myriad financial crimes.

The suit also asserts that other individuals engaged in racketeering activities, including David Pasternak — a Los-Angeles based “receiver,” as well as an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — who allegedly used Bet Tzedek as forum to meet, collude, and otherwise bribe various judges and lawyers for the purpose of further appointing Pasternak as “receiver.”

The complaint also contains allegations that Ronald George — former Chief Justice of the State of California — unlawfully transferred funds from entities that were under his control (such as the California Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) intended for the CCMS computer system) into various accounts that were specifically maintained in Alan Rothenberg’s bank — 1st Century — a bank which Eric George owns in part. Said funds, as the suit alleges, were later embezzled.

As part of maintaining the scheme, the suit alleges, AOC employees Ronald Overholt and William Vickery were bestowed with various gifts, trips, kickbacks, bribes, excessive salaries, and the like. Similarly, and also as part of guarding the scheme, the suit alleges that defendants, at times, resorted to utilizing the services of Tom Layton — a former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff/Senior State Bar of California investigator — to “illegally gather detrimental dirt” on various individuals who would oppose and/or object to the existence of said arrangements.

According to sources, Layton is part of an ongoing “ambulance chasing” scheme that the Girardi Syndicate operates in San Bernardino County vis-a-vis a satellite office located in San Bernardino and managed by Thomas Girardi’s son-in-law, David Lira.

Additionally, and per the sources, Layton has been previously utilized by the Girardi Syndicate to “assist” Sharon Major Lewis in selecting the names of nominees to be appointed as judges by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and to garner the support of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in endorsing judicial candidate the Girardi Syndicate deemed worthy of such an endorsement.

The suit also alleges that defendant Holly Fujie — an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — engaged in various acts of misconduct while assisting Ronald and Eric George to transfer funds from both the California Bar Foundation (where she serves as vice-president) and the State Bar of California (where she served as a member of a committee responsible for distribution of funds) to Bet Tzedek totaling hundreds of thousand of dollars.

Bet Tzedek is based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1974, and is an affiliated agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Bet Tzedek is the exclusive provider of free legal services to low-income seniors through contracts with the City and County of Los Angeles.

Please observe that, rather than contacting Zenick directly, the query is being delivered publicly, here and now.

Any  comments, opinion or observation can be sent to lesliebrodie@gmx.com

David Lash is a counsel in O’Melveny’s Los Angeles and Century City offices. He serves as Managing Counsel of the Firm’s public interest and pro bono services, helping the pro bono program become one of the most acclaimed in the country.

David’s experience includes representing and counseling clients on a wide range of issues relating to complex business litigation, including trial and appellate representation, real estate matters, corporate governance, board relations, labor and employment, and all areas of public policy and community relations.

Prior to joining O’Melveny, David was Executive Director of Bet Tzedek.

Board Member,  Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCO); co-chair of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the California State Bar

Community Service,  Bet Tzedek, Board of Directors; State Bar Legal Services Trust Fund Commission; Public Counsel; ACLU Foundation of Southern California; Harriett Buhai Center; UCLA Moot Court Program; member, Jewish Federation Council, Council of Agency and Federation Executives (1994-2003); Jewish Community Relations Committee; Board of Directors, Fairfax LANI (Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative) (1995-2002); Los Angeles Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (1994-2003); Los Angeles County Bar Association, Board of Trustees (2005-2007); Jewish Federation Counsel, Caring for the Needy Committee, Community Involvement Committee; Adjunct Professor of Law, Stanford University School of Law, University of California Irvine School of Law;

Source, please see @:

http://www.omm.com/davidlash/

Jay Abarbanel
Retired

Jeffrey I. Abrams
Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro & Schulman, LLP

James N. Adler
Adler ADR

G. Carla Axelrod
Wells Fargo

Robert G. Badal
WilmerHale

Arthur H. Bilger
Shelter Capital Partners

Aviva K. Bobb
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Retired

Evan A. Braude
Law Offices of Evan Anderson Braude

Meryl K. Chae
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom LLP & Affiliates

Maren Christensen
Universal Studios

James P. Clark
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Nancy Sher Cohen
Proskauer Rose, LLP

Mark T. Drooks
Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim,
Drooks & Lincenberg

Scott A. Edelman
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Lewis G. Feldman
Goodwin Procter LLP

Michael A. Firestein
Proskauer Rose LLP

Gerald S. Freisleben
Foley/Freisleben LLC

Alan V. Friedman, Esq.
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

Mark J. Friedman
Pinkberry

Terry B. Friedman
JAMS

Marc H. Gamsin
Alliance Bernstein

Eric M. George
Browne Woods George LLP

Lisa Gilford
Alston & Bird

Geoffrey M. Gold
Rutter, Hobbs & Davidoff Inc.

Glenn Gottlieb
Gottlieb Mediation Services

Gordon A. Greenberg
McDermott, Will & Emery

Howard Grobstein
Grobstein, Horwath & Company LLP

Daniel T. Gryczman
Regent Properties

Carole E. Handler
Lathrop & Gage LLP

Rex Heinke
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Gregory D. Helmer
Helmer & Friedman, LLP

J. Erik Isken
Southern California Edison

Richard B. Jones
Merrill Lynch

Stanley T. Kandel
Retired

Frank Kaplan
Bingham McCutchen LLP

Richard L. Kellner
Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP

Jeffrey H. Kinrich, C.P.A.
Analysis Group, Inc.

Luis Lainer
Lainer Investments

David A. Lash, Esq.
O’Melveny & Myers

Stanley W. Levy
Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Steven D. Lotwin
Capital Group Companies

Neal R. Marder
Winston & Strawn

Kevin S. Marks
Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc.

Frank E. Melton
Rutter, Hobbs & Davidoff Inc.

Linda Michaelson
Sheppard Mullin

Kenneth S. Millman
Millman Investments

Mark A. Milstein
Milstein, Edeleman & Prager

Barton P. Pachino
California State University Northridge
Business Law Department

Scott Packman
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

David J. Pasternak
Pasternak, Pasternak & Patton

Jay Rakow
The Lincy Foundation

Jeffrey E. Resnick
First Property Realty Corporation

Gary D. Roberts
Fox Entertainment Group

Peter K. Rosen
Latham & Watkins LLP

Erin C. Rotgin
Fox Entertainment Group

David J. Schindler
Latham & Watkins

Ronie M. Schmelz
Sidley Austin LLP

Robert M. Schwartz
O’Melveny & Myers

Allan Schweitzer
Post Advisory Group, LLC

Brette S. Simon
Jones Day

Jeffrey A. Sklar, Esq.
Sklar Law, P.C.

Glenn A. Sonnenberg
Latitude Management Real Estate Investors

David M. Stern
Klee Tuchin Bogdanoff & Stern LLP

Brian A. Sun
Jones Day

Jonathan A. Victor
Balmoral Funds

Leah E. Weil
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.

Edward Weiss
TicketMaster

Bruce A. Wessel
Irell & Manella LLP

Michael A. Woronoff
Proskauer Rose LLP

Source @:

http://www.bettzedek.org/about-us/our-board/

David Lash and Holly Fujie as members of State Bar of California LSTFC, please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/7rggfy4

Please see @:

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008c…

Bet Tzedek Legal Services today announced that attorney and long-time community leader Sandor E. Samuels has been selected as president and chief executive officer of the nationally respected public-interest law firm. The appointment followed a comprehensive, three-month national search.

Samuels has served as a member of Bet Tzedek’s board of directors since 1994, including a two-year term as its chair. Most recently, Samuels served as senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Bank of America Corporation’s Home Loans and Insurance Division until his retirement in August 2010 after 30 years in the financial-services industry. He joined Bank of America upon its 2008 acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corporation. Over his 18-year career as a senior executive and chief legal officer of Countrywide, Samuels built a corporate-law department that grew from a staff of nine to more than 250 under his direction.

“Sandy Samuels personifies the best ideals of Bet Tzedek: legal excellence, an abiding belief in equal access to justice and a record of tireless civic engagement and service to the community,” said Bet Tzedek Chair Gary D. Roberts. “Intelligence, integrity, demonstrated management skills and respect across legal and civic circles make Sandy the ideal individual to build upon Bet Tzedek’s 35-plus year record of accomplishment. His selection as president and CEO extends a legacy of outstanding leaders to have occupied this position before him.”

Samuels stated: “I am honored and humbled to be chosen to lead Bet Tzedek. My efforts on behalf of Bet Tzedek over the years reflect the immense pride and close kinship I feel to this vital and dynamic organization. With a remarkable staff and committed base of volunteers, we are, in numerous ways, the yardstick for excellence in legal-aid services—through our direct client representation, educational outreach and policy-making initiatives. I expect us to continue building fully upon these successes.”

He continued, “By stroke of fortuitous timing, I was shifting from the corporate counsel phase of my career just as the Bet Tzedek opportunity arose. I am enormously fortunate at this juncture to be able now to devote my energies and my passion on a full-time professional basis to ensuring that justice is accessible to the most vulnerable members of our society. This opportunity enables me to meld my love of the law, my commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world), and my community involvement that has been so richly fulfilling to me over my career.”

Samuels assumes management and administrative oversight of Bet Tzedek, including an operating budget of $7 million. The organization annually serves approximately 12,000 low-income, elderly and disabled clients through a staff of 67 and nearly 1,600 volunteer attorneys and paralegals, who last year contributed more than 60,000 hours to Bet Tzedek’s important work.

Holly J. Fujie, who led the Bet Tzedek board selection committee, said, “My committee members and I were all impressed by the caliber of the candidates and the credentials they brought to bear. Sandy’s appointment followed a rigorous process through which we narrowed in phases a sizable pool of initial applicants to arrive at three finalists—each with outstanding qualifications. The outpouring of interest in the position stands, in my view, as a testament to Bet Tzedek’s sterling reputation and breadth of accomplishments. In the end, Sandy was unequivocally the right choice.”

(Emphasis added)

Source @:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101012005797/en/Bet-Tzedek-Legal-Serv…

June 25, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gareth Lacy (415) 703-5837
Print Version
Attachments
Brown Sues Countrywide For Mortgage Deception

LOS ANGELES–California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued Countrywide Financial, its chief executive Angelo Mozilo, and president David Sambol, for engaging in deceptive advertising and unfair competition by pushing homeowners into mass-produced, risky loans for the sole purpose of reselling the mortgages on the secondary market.

“Countrywide exploited the American dream of homeownership and then sold its mortgages for huge profits on the secondary market,” Attorney General Brown said. “The company sold ever-increasing numbers of complex and risky home loans, as quickly as possible. Countrywide was, in essence, a mass-production loan factory, producing ever-increasing streams of debt without regard for borrowers. Today’s lawsuit seeks relief for Californians who were ripped off by Countrywide’s deceptive scheme.”

Brown alleges that Countrywide Financial used deceptive tactics to push homeowners into complicated, risky, and expensive loans so that the company could sell as many loans as possible to third-party investors. According to the lawsuit, the company marketed complex and difficult to understand loans with very low initial or “teaser” interest rates or payments. Countrywide employees, including loan officers, underwriters, and branch managers–who were under intense pressure to process a constantly increasing number of loans–misrepresented or obfuscated the fact that borrowers who obtained certain types of loans would experience dramatic increases in monthly payments.

In the past, lenders like Countrywide sold home loans to customers and held the loans in their own portfolio, an incentive to maintain strong underwriting standards. Countrywide, however, sold its loans to third-parties in the form of securities or whole loans, often earning more profit for riskier loans. The business model generated windfall profits for Countrywide.

The company pushed these loans by emphasizing a low “teaser” or initial rate, often as low as 1 percent for pay option ARMs. Countrywide obscured the negative effects–including rising rates, prepayment penalties and negative amortization–which would inevitably result from making minimum payments or trying to refinance. The company misrepresented or hid the fact that borrowers who obtained its home loans–including exploding adjustable rates and negatively amortizing loans–would experience dramatic increases in monthly payments.

In an effort to rope in as many customers as possible, Countrywide greatly relaxed and liberally granted exceptions to its mortgage lending standards. Traditionally, lenders required borrowers to document income and assets but Countrywide offered reduced or no documentation loan programs to increase its loan sales. Angelo Mozilo and David Sambol actively pushed for easing underwriting standards and granting exceptions to documentation requirements.

In Countrywide’s 2006 annual report, the company touted the massive growth of its loan production from $62 billion in 2000 to $463 billion in 2006–three times the increase of the U.S. residential loan production market, which tripled from $1.0 trillion in 2000 to $2.9 trillion in 2006. 26 percent of Countywide loans were for California properties. The company sold an ever-increasing number of loans in an effort to gain a 30 percent market share of loan originations and then sell its loans on the secondary market, as mortgage-backed securities or pools of whole loans. Countrywide’s securities trading volume increased from $647 billion in 2000 to $3.8 trillion in 2006.

Countrywide routinely sold loans based upon a borrower’s stated income and without verifying the information. Loan officers memorized scripts that marketed low payments by focusing on the potential customer’s dissatisfaction, saying, for example, “Which would you rather have, a long-term fixed payment, or a short-term one that may allow you to realize several hundred dollars a month in savings?” The loan officer did not state that the payment on this new loan would exceed the payment on the current loan.

Countrywide paid greater compensation to brokers for loans with a higher interest rates, as well as prepayment penalties, because it could sell those loans for higher prices on the secondary market. Countrywide also paid rebates to brokers who originated loans with prepayment penalties, adjustable rates and high margins.

Countrywide operated an extensive telemarketing operation in which it touted its expertise and claimed to find the best financial options for customers. Customer Service representatives at Countrywide call centers were required to complete calls within three minutes, often processing sixty-five to eight-five calls per day. Employees who did not meet quotas were terminated. The company’s deceptive marketing practices, designed to sell costly loans while hiding or misrepresenting the terms and dangers, included:

- Encouraging borrowers to refinance or obtain financing with complicated mortgage instruments like hybrid adjustable rate mortgages or payment option adjustable mortgages
- Marketing complex loan products by emphasizing a very low “teaser” rate while misrepresenting the steep monthly payments, increased interest rates and risk of negative amortization
- Dramatically easing underwriting standards to qualify more people for loans
- Using low or no-documentation loans which allowed no verification of stated income
- Hiding total monthly payment obligations by selling homeowners a second mortgage in the form of a home equity line of credit
- Making borrowers sign a large stack of documents without provider time to read the paperwork
- Misrepresenting or hiding the fact that loans had prepayment penalties

As the secondary market’s appetite for loans increased, Countrywide further relaxed its standards to finance borrowers with ever-decreasing credit scores. Countrywide employees routinely overrode the company’s computerized underwriting system, known as CLUES, which issued loan analysis reports recommending or discouraging loans based on factors such as a consumer’s credit rating. As the pressure to produce loans increased, Countrywide set up an entire department in Plano, Texas, at the direction of Mozilo and Sambol, where employees could submit requests for underwriting exceptions. In 2006, 15,000 to 20,000 loans a month were processed through this exception process.

Countrywide’s deceptive sales practices resulted in a large number of loans ending in default and foreclosure. According to Countrywide’s February 2008 records, a staggering 27 percent of its subprime mortgages were delinquent. Overall, approximately 20,000 Californians lost their homes to foreclosure in May 2008 and 72,000 California homes were in default, roughly 1 out of 183 homes.

Despite receiving numerous complaints from borrowers claiming that they did not understand their loan terms, Countrywide ignored loan officer’s deceptive practices and loose underwriting standards. Countrywide also pushed its borrowers to serially refinance, repeatedly urging borrowers to obtain home loans to pay off their current debt.

Today’s lawsuit, filed this morning in Los Angeles Superior Court, redacts confidential information Countrywide provided during the attorney general’s investigation. The attorney general is seeking the company’s consent to file an amended complaint that removes the redactions.

During the course of its investigation into Countrywide, state investigators reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents and interviewed scores of witnesses including consumers and former employees.

Consumers who believe they have been victimized by Countrywide Consumers should file a complaint by contact the Attorney General’s Public Inquiry Unit in writing at Attorney General’s Office California Department of Justice Attn: Public Inquiry Unit P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, California or through an online complaint form: http://ag.ca.gov/contact/complaint_form.php?cmplt=CL

The case is People v. Countrywide, Los Angeles Superior Court case number LC081846.

Please see source, and copy of lawsuit @:

http://oag.ca.gov/news/press_release?id=1582

Judicial Council Watcher is urging the public to assist Marina Del Rey-based legal scholar San Dydzak by providing “material support to underscore many of the allegations made therein. If you can add anything to the complaint, feel free to contact Mr. Dydzak.”

Please see @:

http://judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/more-reasons-to-fund-t…

The request comes in the aftermath of revelations of numerous scandals involving the integrity of several judges and executives of the State Bar of California, California Supreme Court, California Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”), which came on the heels of a crisis of confidence in California’s Judicial Council leadership.

Recently, using a law originally enacted to combat the mafia, Dydzak took the rare step of suing “Bet Tzedek,” a Los Angeles-based Jewish non-profit entity, under the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law (“RICO”).

Also named as part of the alleged racketeering enterprise were banker Alan Rothenberg, David Pasternak, Sandor Samuels, Ronald George, and his son Eric George (who serves as a member of Bet Tzedek’s Board of Directors).

RICO is a federal law that authorizes a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. RICO focuses specifically on racketeering, and it allows for the leaders of a syndicate to be held civilly liable for the crimes that they ordered others to commit or which they assisted in committing.

The lawsuit alleges that various defendants misused Bet Tzedek as vehicle for the purpose of bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and tax-evasion with the intended outcome of siphoning the money into off-shore accounts. According to sources, the various accounts are located in Switzerland and at the Vatican.

Specifically, and in connection with some of Bet Tzedek’s alleged racketeering activities, the suit maintains that Sandor Samuels — CEO and President of Bet Tzedek and former Chief Trial Counsel at embattled Countywide Financial Services — was appointed President and CEO of Bet Tzedek largely due to his working knowledge of how to operate an enterprise which engages in myriad financial crimes.

The suit also asserts that other individuals engaged in racketeering activities, including David Pasternak — a Los-Angeles based “receiver,” as well as an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — who allegedly used Bet Tzedek as forum to meet, collude, and otherwise bribe various judges and lawyers for the purpose of further appointing Pasternak as “receiver.”

The complaint also contains allegations that Ronald George — former Chief Justice of the State of California — unlawfully transferred funds from entities that were under his control (such as the California Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) intended for the CCMS computer system) into various accounts that were specifically maintained in Alan Rothenberg’s bank — 1st Century — a bank which Eric George owns in part. Said funds, as the suit alleges, were later embezzled.

As part of maintaining the scheme, the suit alleges, AOC employees Ronald Overholt and William Vickery were bestowed with various gifts, trips, kickbacks, bribes, excessive salaries, and the like. Similarly, and also as part of guarding the scheme, the suit alleges that defendants, at times, resorted to utilizing the services of Tom Layton — a former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff/Senior State Bar of California investigator — to “illegally gather detrimental dirt” on various individuals who would oppose and/or object to the existence of said arrangements.

According to sources, Layton is part of an ongoing “ambulance chasing” scheme that the Girardi Syndicate operates in San Bernardino County vis-a-vis a satellite office located in San Bernardino and managed by Thomas Girardi’s son-in-law, David Lira.

Additionally, and per the sources, Layton has been previously utilized by the Girardi Syndicate to “assist” Sharon Major Lewis in selecting the names of nominees to be appointed as judges by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and to garner the support of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in endorsing judicial candidate the Girardi Syndicate deemed worthy of such an endorsement.

The suit also alleges that defendant Holly Fujie — an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — engaged in various acts of misconduct while assisting Ronald and Eric George to transfer funds from both the California Bar Foundation (where she serves as vice-president) and the State Bar of California (where she served as a member of a committee responsible for distribution of funds) to Bet Tzedek totaling hundreds of thousand of dollars.

Bet Tzedek is based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1974, and is an affiliated agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Bet Tzedek is the exclusive provider of free legal services to low-income seniors through contracts with the City and County of Los Angeles.

Erwin Chemerinsky – Dean, UCI Law / Voice of OC BOD – Hereby Asked to Disclose if Library Assistant Diane Dunn Is One and the Same as UC Irvine Communications Projects Manager Diane Dunn — Spouse of Voice of OC Joe Dunn of UCI Foundation which Absorbed Funds From CaliforniaALL which Absorbed Hush-Hush Funds from California Bar Foundation ?

Please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/d5ceosm

AND @

http://tinyurl.com/cznxcnu

AND @

http://tinyurl.com/c6taoaf

Organizational Summary

This Organizational Summary is for the former Network & Academic Computing Services. The document will be updated to reflect the new Office of Information Technology consolidated IT department.

Summary: This document lists the organizational groups within UCI’s Network & Academic Computing Services (NACS). The function of each group is summarized along with a list of assigned staff and reporting relationships. Please feel free to send comments and questions about NACS to NACS@UCI.EDU or to any NACS manager; management e-mail addresses are provided below.

Effective: July 8, 2009
DIRECTORS
Related Information

    OIT Organizational Chart

Assistant Vice Chancellor and CIO
    Dana Roode, droode@uci.edu
Directors
     
Director of Academic Outreach, NACS     Stephen Franklin, franklin@uci.edu
Director of Business Services, NACS     Marie Perezcastaneda, mariepc@uci.edu
Director of Client Services, NACS     Allen Schiano, schiano@uci.edu
Director of Network Operations, NACS     Brian Buckler, bbuckler@uci.edu
Director of Academic & Network Applications, NACS     Shohreh Bozorgmehri, shohreh@uci.edu

 
Network & Infrastructure Services (reports to Director: Brian Buckler)

    Central Computing Systems (CCS): Develops and operates NACS central services, including: NACS Mailbox Services, UCI Webmail, NACS Calendar Services (using Oracle Calendar), and UCI WebFiles.

        Manager: John Mangrich, mangrich@uci.edu

            Joe Brancaleone, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Sean Hennessee, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Andrew Laurence, Application Specialist
            David Severance, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Tri Tran, Exchange Systems Administrator
            John Ward, Enterprise Services Architect

    Communications Projects: Plans and manages all campus-wide network and telecommunications infrastructure projects. Designs, estimates costs, manages, schedules, and coordinates all project resources and activities to ensure that projects are planned proactively, managed effectively, completed on-time and within budget, implemented in a quality manner, and that they meet or exceed client expectations. Planning: Plans projects proactively. Stays informed about short and long-range plans that could require communications infrastructure. Provides designs, plans, specifications, and detailed cost estimates during the planning stages of a project.

        Manager: Diane Dunn, ddunn@uci.edu

            Daniel Galvan, Communications Administrative Specialist
            Randall Morgan, Cabling Specialist
            Stacey Rose, Assistant Project Manager
            Michael Simon, Project Technician

    IT Security: Responsible for the security of UCInet and NACS services.   Works closely with campus units to ensure the security of their environments.  Provides timely updates to the campus regarding important security developments. Maintains useful information for campus units and end users about securing their systems, networks, and applications. Monitors UCInet for potentially illegal or threatening traffic patterns, within the scope of the Electronic Communications Policy.  Acts as the main point of contact for law enforcement authorities.

        Manager: Isaac Straley, straley@uci.edu

            Garrett Hildebrand, Sr. Security Analyst
            Mike Iglesias, Principal Security Engineer
            Lee Knutson, IT Security Analyst
            John Lenning, Security Engineer

    Network Engineering: Plans, implements, maintains, and supports campus data and voice electronic communications network infrastructure. This includes the fiber optic data backbone, copper telephone cable, Ericsson telephone system, building routers, and repeaters/hubs. Maintains UCI’s off-campus network connection to the Internet, and phone connection via Pacific Bell and long distance service providers. Provides remote access to UCInet via UCI’s modem pool. Coordinates campus radio services, and manages UCI’s 800 MHz radio system.

        Interim Manager: Michael Scott, mscott@uci.edu

            Brian Chrisman, Radio System Specialist
            Clyde Higashida, Network Engineer
            Bjorn Juslin, Jr. Telecom Systems Engineer
            John Schaefer, Telephone System Network Administrator
            Rich VanBuskirk, Jr. Network Engineer
            Jessica Yu, Network Architect

    Telecommunications Field Operations: Handles phone instrument and UCInet network connection installation and maintenance.

        Interim Manager: Tyler Turley, tturley@uci.edu

            John Allerton, Communications Electronics Technician
            Robert Castillo, Communications Electronics Technician
            Doug Lawrence, Communications Electronics Technician
            Rudy Mendoza, Communications Electronics Technician

Client Services (reports to Director: Allen Schiano)

    Engineering & Academic Data Center Support: Provides engineering support to NACS facilities and services.  At present, major responsibilities include EG Academic Data Center (UPS, HVAC, generator-based power, power distribution, and vendor and Facilities relations), HVAC systems, video surveillance security and access control.   Special projects in support of campus groups and entities in related areas under contract.

        Manager: Allen Schiano, schiano@uci.edu

            Alex Odyniec, Academic Data Center Engineer

    Instructional Labs & Desktop Support (ILDS): Develops and maintains NACS instructional labs including labs in Engineering Gateway (EG), Humanities Instructional Building (HIB), and Multipurpose Science and Technology Building (MST), the Student Center, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building in Fall 2009.  Manages labs for other campus departments including labs in Gateway Commons (GSC), Instructional Technology Center (ITC), and School of the Arts (SOTA.)    Provides internal NACS desktop support and DUE-IT desktop support.

        Manager: Son Nguyen, snguyen@uci.edu

            Lawrence Bolante, Payprint Manager/Systems Administrator
            Wilson Crasta, Computer Lab Support Specialist
            Larry Davis, Computer Support Specialist
            Norman Gargantiel, PC Labs Manager
            Christopher Jones, Mac Lab Manager
            Ba Nguyen, Computer Support Specialist

    Research Computing Support (RCS): Provides direct support to campus researchers in areas that rely on, or might benefit from: assistance with, training in, and evaluation of new and existing software applications; coordination of software and hardware computing resources; synergies resulting from interdisciplinary collaborations; assistance in writing grant-applications that involve research computing.

        Manager: Allen Schiano, schiano@uci.edu

            Joseph Farran, Cluster Architect
            Harry Mangalam, Research Computing Asst./Programmer
            Tony Soeller, Research Computing Specialist
            Frank Wessel, Research Computing Specialist
            Students

    Response Center (RC): The NACS Help Desk acts as central NACS computer and network trouble reporting and coordination center, 24 hours/day, 365 days/year, and provides a variety of auxiliary support for NACS services.  Staffs and operates NACS central facilities, including the NACS Help Desk.

        Manager: Carol Jackson, cjackson@uci.edu
        Assistant Manager:  Lyle Wiedeman, Indirect Support Team Lead and Communications & Publicity

            Daniel Alavi, Computer Lab Consultant (Graveyard Shift)
            Sylvia Bass, Lead Consultant and NACS Webmaster
            Sarkis Daglian, Help Desk Analyst
            Bob Hudack, CSC Liaison and Software Licensing Coordinator
            Preston Orwig, Lead Help Desk Analyst
            Hector SeGui, Swing Shift Consultant
            Student Consultants and Limited Term Staff

Academic & Network Applications (reports to Director: Shohreh Bozorgmehri)

Academic & Network Applications: Researches, plans, designs, builds, and deploys enterprise level web applications to meet UCI’s academic technology needs.  Web Technologies also provides support, consultation, and training through workshops to UCI communities on a wide range of technology topics.  They foster a communication approach and build close partnerships with academic units.  The team supports and facilitates cross-group information, sharing and identifying key collaborative opportunities, and campus-wide IT solutions.  Services include: project management, system administration, programming development, user support, and consulting and training workshops.

    Academic Web Technologies (AWT): Collaborates with and supports the UCI campus academic community via web application design and development, technology training and consulting, and participation in campus wide collaborative efforts in support of the NACS mission. AWT provides application development, system administration and support for the UCI’s Course Management System, Electronic Educational Environment (EEE – eee.uci.edu), the Distance Learning Center course management system (DLC – learn.uci.edu), and the Academic Personnel Systems (AP – recruit.ap.uci.edu).

        Manager: Briandy Walden, bwalden@uci.edu

            Jeffrey Chu, Web Developer
            Kim Gerrard, Training & Support Coordinator
            Kelsey Layos, Operations Manager
            David Pritikin, Software Development Support
            Aldo Sarmiento, Web Developer
            Ray Vadnais, User Experience Architect
            Students

    Distributed Computing Support (DCS):Provides professional, tiered support for departmental computing environments.  Offers systems administration (Unix, Linux, Windows); web development; data backups; and other services customized to the individual researcher, ORU, group, department, or school.

        Manager: Francisco Lopez, lopez@uci.edu

            Quentin Clark, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Cesar Covarrubias, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Evans Curtis, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Ba Nguyen, Computer Support Specialist
            Duncan Phillips, UNIX Systems Administrator
            John Saska, UNIX Systems Administrator
            Students and Limited-Term Staff

    DUE Information Technology: Manages DUE’s central application development, desktop and server support efforts. DUE-IT also works with DUE units and programs to provide backup and coordination of local IT staff to ensure an effective, integrated approach to Information Technology. DUE-IT is a partnership betwen DUE and Network and Academic Computing Services (NACS). DUE-IT will increase the depth and breadth of IT expertise and experience available to DUE, and will further enhance the collaboration between the two units. Their focus is on user support and enhancing communication and user-centric service during the first year of our new partnership.

    DUE Application Development & Support: Plans and manages DUE’s central application development and database administration projects. Services include: operational support to all DUE units, Web application development, database management, IT project management, and Web design content management and consulting.

        Manager: Francisco Lopez, lopez@uci.edu

            Luminita Andricioaei, Application Support & Database Specialist
            Kenny Lai, Application Developer
            John Remy, DUE Project Manager & Database Administrator
            Lu Yang, Application Developer
            Students

    Enterprise Systems Architects: Responsible for providing “always on” high capacity system architecture for the Web Technologies unit.  Regularly refine programming, system, security, and testing standards.  Design and deliver enterprise web applications to campus community.  Facilitate cross-group information sharing and foster collaborative opportunities.

        Manager: Shohreh Bozorgmehri, shohreh@uci.edu

            Max Garrick, Systems Architect
            Phil Orwig, Systems Architect

    Network and Support Programming: Develops and maintains middleware and other software systems supporting UCInet services.  Examples include: the campus directory; directory services (LDAP and QI) for applications; identity management (UCInetIDs); domain name service (DNS); Mailman mail lists; UCInet metrics; and incoming mail service, including our anti-spam efforts.

        Manager: Brian Roode, bgroode@uci.edu

            Derek Chee, Network Services Administrator
            Keith Chong, Network Services Administrator/Programmer
            Cliff Chuang, Network Programmer
            Anthony Nguyen, Jr. Network Unix System Administrator
            Chris Peters, Network Programmer
            Dana Watanabe, Network Programmer/Analyst
            Con Wieland, UCI E-Mail Postmaster
            Students

 
Business Services (reports to Director: Marie Perezcastaneda)

    Business Services: Provides administrative support to NACS management and staff for purchasing, travel, billing, accounting, budgeting, payroll and personnel activities, equipment and key distribution and inventory, and marketing. Provides guidance and advice in areas of finance, short-and long-range planning, policy and procedure development, human resource concerns, space and facilities, environmental health and safety, capital equipment purchasing and financing, building projects, and software licensing.

        Manager: Marie Perezcastaneda, mariepc@uci.edu

            Stephanie Ybarra, Human Resource Specialist-Computing and Networking

        Supervisor: David McCafferty, Business Coordinator-Networking, d.mccafferty@uci.edu

            Deborah Ahlheim, Customer Service Business Assistant-Networking
            Kristen Mazza, Business Assistant: Purchasing, Bookkeeping and Billing-Networking

        Supervisor: Nancy Morallo, Business Coordinator-Computing, mmorallo@uci.edu

            Linda Ellyson, Billing & Revenue Coordinator and Payroll Processor-Computing
            Jing Wang, Bookkeeper-Computing
            Student

    Telecommunications Customer Service: Provides customer support for telephone and data installation, repair, and change requests. Advises on phone configuration options and the Infomail system. Provides assistance with billing and offers telephone and Infomail training classes. Provides campus telephone directory, general information, operator services and cellular telephone services.

        Manager: Theresa Barnes, tabarnes@uci.edu

            Gayle Bonham, Telephone Operator
            Carol Sison, Telecommunications Specialist
            Student Operators

Using a law originally enacted to combat the mafia, a Marina Del Rey-based legal scholar recently took the rare step of suing “Bet Tzedek,” a Los Angeles-based Jewish non-profit entity, under the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law (“RICO”).

Also named as part of the alleged racketeering enterprise were banker Alan Rothenberg, David Pasternak, Samuel Sanders, Ronald George, and his son Eric George (who serves as a member of Bet Tzedek’s Board of Directors).

RICO is a federal law that authorizes a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.  RICO focuses specifically on racketeering, and it allows for the leaders of a syndicate to be held civilly liable for the crimes that they ordered others to commit or which they assisted in committing.

The lawsuit alleges that various defendants misused Bet Tzedek as vehicle for the purpose of bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and tax-evasion with the intended outcome of siphoning the money into off-shore accounts.  According to sources, the various accounts are located in Switzerland and at the Vatican. 

Specifically, and in connection with some of Bet Tzedek’s alleged racketeering activities, the suit maintains that Sandor Samuel — CEO and President of Bet Tzedek and former Chief Trial Counsel at embattled Countywide Financial Services –  was appointed President and CEO of Bet Tzedek largely due to his working knowledge of how to operate an enterprise which engages in myriad financial crimes. 

The suit also asserts that other individuals engaged in racketeering activities, including David Pasternak –  a Los-Angeles based “receiver,” as well as an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — who allegedly used Bet Tzedek as forum to meet, collude, and otherwise bribe various judges and lawyers  for the purpose of further appointing Pasternak as “receiver.”

The complaint also contains allegations that Ronald George — former Chief Justice of the State of California — unlawfully transferred  funds from  entities that were under his control (such as the California Administrative Office of the Courts (“AOC”) intended for the CCMS computer system) into various accounts that were specifically maintained in Alan Rothenberg’s bank — 1st Century — a bank which Eric George owns in part.  Said funds, as the suit alleges, were later embezzled.

As part of maintaining the scheme, the suit alleges, AOC employees Ronald Overholt and William Vickery were bestowed with various gifts, trips, kickbacks, bribes, excessive salaries, and the like.  Similarly, and also as part of guarding the scheme, the suit alleges that defendants, at times, resorted to utilizing the services of Tom Layton — a former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff/Senior State Bar of California investigator –  to “illegally gather detrimental dirt” on various individuals who would oppose and/or object to the existence of said arrangements. 

According to sources, Layton is part of an ongoing “ambulance chasing” scheme that the Girardi Syndicate operates in San Bernardino County vis-a-vis a satellite office located in San Bernardino and managed by Thomas Girardi’s son-in-law, David Lira.   

Additionally, and per the sources, Layton has been previously utilized by the Girardi Syndicate to “assist” Sharon Major Lewis in selecting the names of nominees to be appointed as judges by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and to garner the support of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in endorsing judicial candidate the Girardi Syndicate deemed worthy of such an endorsement.

The suit also alleges that defendant Holly Fujie –  an officer of both Bet Tzedek and the Chancery Club — engaged in various acts of misconduct while assisting Ronald and Eric George to transfer funds from both the California Bar Foundation (where she serves as vice-president) and the State Bar of California (where she served as a member of a committee responsible for distribution of funds) to Bet Tzedek totaling hundreds of thousand of dollars.

Bet Tzedek is based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1974, and  is an affiliated agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.  Bet Tzedek is the exclusive provider of free legal services to low-income seniors through contracts with the City and County of Los Angeles.

During the investigation, tribal representatives refused to participate in the process or respond to the grand jury’s findings, citing their status as “a sovereign governmental entity that is immune to the jurisdiction and process of state and local authorities.”

Representatives from the Yocha Dehe tribe also refused to provide up-to-date membership figures when requested for this story, but the grand jury report estimated adult membership at fewer than 25 people.

While tribal casinos present challenges to rural counties, some believe their value as an economic engine can’t be denied.

Steve Smith, the human resources director for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians — the Sonoma tribe operating River Rock —said that the casino employs roughly 600 people, making it one of the top 20 employers in the county.

Cache Creek employs more than 2,300 people, said Mike Traum, the casino’s communications manager. The figure makes the casino the second largest employer in Yolo County, behind only the University of California, Davis.

Noting the effects that such large-scale gaming operations can have on rural areas, the tribes operating  Cache Creek and River Rock have entered into intergovernmental agreements with Yolo and Sonoma counties, respectively.
Both agreements resulted in multimillion-dollar windfalls of mitigation payments for the two counties.

In Yolo County, the Yocha Dehe tribe has shelled out more than $32 million in mitigation between 2002 and 2010, with healthy portions going toward the sheriff’s department and the district attorney’s office.

Please see source:

http://www.standupca.org/tribes/Rumsey%20Rancheria/rural-indian-casinos-bring…

TLR Note:

Howard Dickstein — a Sacramento-based Indian gambling attorney is highly corrupted, greedy at the extreme, and has been compared by many to Jack Abramoff. 

Dickstein two main clients are Cache Creek Casino / Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation located in Yolo County, and Thunder Valley Casino/ United Auburn Indian Community located in Placer County.

Only recently, Arizona Senator John McCain has called for an investigation concerting Dickstein ‘s alleged unlawful business practices.  Similarly, Madame Jessica Tavares — former chair of  United Auburn Indian Community which owns Thunder Valley Casino — accused Dickstein of duping the tribe into paying his firm $26 million in fees over six years. 

Previously, the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians which owns Cache Creek Casino had sued Dickstein.  The lawsuit ( http://tinyurl.com/cs77wqm) alleged “Greed & Betrayal” vis-via causes of actions for:

(1) BREACH OF CONTRACT
(2) BREACH OF CONTRACT
(3) NEGLIGENCE
(4) BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY
(5) AIDING AND ABETTING AND PARTICIPATING IN BREACHES OF FIDUCIARY DUTY
(6) FRAUD/CONCEALMENT
(7) CONSTRUCTIVE FRAUD
(8) NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION
(9) CONVERSION
(10) VIOLATION OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 17200
(11) UNJUST ENRICHMENT
(12) DECLARATORY RELIEF
(13) NEGLIGENCE
(14) CIVIL CONSPIRACY

While the above mentioned suit was being litigated,  not surprisingly, wholly separate allegations of grave misconduct were leveled against Howard Dickstein, as well as against the firm which represented him — Keker & Van Nest. 

Specifically, attorneys from the law offices of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy,  and ethics expert Michael Boli alleged that Howard Dickstein and/or Keker & Van Nest manufactured evidence, and engaged in myriad violations of professional ethics.  See @:    http://tinyurl.com/bom2va2

Shockingly, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy,  and ethics expert Michael Boli  did not allege that Howard Dickstein and/or Keker & Van Nest engaged in extortion/attempted extortion or otherwise violated ethics rules which prohibit — even indirectly –  the threat of criminal prosecution for the purpose of gaining an advantage over an adversary in a civil dispute,  in reply to false allegations advanced to the court by Howard Dickstein and/or Keker & Van Nest that the plaintiffs (the clients of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy and ethics expert Michael Boli ) had “clearly committed a felony.”

Subsequent to the conclusion of the litigation, and in order to conceal the fraudulent and egregious misconduct perpetrated by Dickstein against his client — the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians — Dickstein had conspired with Keker & Van Nest to mislead the public into believing that the plaintiffs had only alleged that he was “negligent.”   See @   http://tinyurl.com/cp989dq

Dickstein is married to one Jeannine English — a lobbyist from Sacramento who serves as “Public Member” of the State Bar of California Board of Governors/Trustees.  Jeannine English, not surprisingly, is as greedy and corrupt as Dickstein, and then some. 

She is a former member of the California’s  “Little Hoover Commission” (as is State Bar of California “Public Member” Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam. )  

Interestingly, while Jeannine English was part of the Little Hoover Commission, Howard Dickstein was appointed to purvey legal services to the commission.  Conversely, Dickstein  had arranged that his client — the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians — would hire his wife Jeannine English to act as “Lobbyist” for the tribe.

Jeannine English was positioned as BOG “Public Member” to primarily ensure that her husband Howard Dickstein will not be disciplined by the State Bar of California, despite the well documented trail of fraudulent and egregious misconduct he had perpetrated against several  of his clients.  This had the net benefit of unjustly enriching  both  herself and her husband at the expense of Dickstein ‘s client, the People of the State of California, and the fair administration of justice. 

Further seeking to escape justice and in order to apiece other law enforcement agencies, Dickstein also arranges for huge sums of money to be donated to Jerry Brown, California attorney general Kamala Harris,  and other California Democratic Operatives from the coffers of his clients.  See example @    http://tinyurl.com/cftq5ye

Incidentally, Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam (as is  “Public Member” Dennis Mangers – also a California Democratic Party operative)  primary goal as BOG public members is also  to ensure that certain law firms such Girardi & Keese, Engstrom Lispcmomb & Lack, Cotche Pitre & McCarthy, Kreindler & Kreindler, Morrison & Foerster, Skadden Arps, Kerr & Wagstaffe, Howard Dickstein of Dickstein & Zerbi, and many others known as “State Bar Royalty” are not disciplined by the State Bar.  For example, Gwen Moore, Jeannine English, Alec Chang, Jon Streeter , Starr Babcock, Robert Hawley, Joe Dunn, and others are part of an ongoing highly unlawful conspiracy to obstruct justice in the matter of In Re Girardi.

 In consideration of allowing to operate with impunity by the state Bar of California , those  law firms contribute handsomely to members of the California Democratic Party vis-vis political donations and /or class-actions Cy Pres award and/or diversity money — either directly or indirectly. 

Moore is also involved in various other adventures which mainly consist of  “leaning” on the CPUC/Utility companies for the purpose of extracting money under the guise of Diversity pursuant to General Order 156.  According to sources close to YR,  General Order 156 is nullity given the passage of Proposition 209.  Consequently, those sources maintain,  a declaratory judgement action will soon be filed in the Sacramento Superior Court seeking to declare General Order 156 null and void.

In furtherance of the above mentioned unlawful activities, and in order to compensate for the lack of discipline imposed on State Bar Royalty; sources familiar with the situation maintain a policy was put in place by Judy Johnson, Jeannine English, Thomas Girardi, Robert Hawley, Howard Dickstein, Alec Chang, Starr Babcock, Howard Miller, Holly Fujie and others — on their behalf and on behalf of others — to frame innocent lawyers and/or impose unusually harsh discipline even for minor violations. 

For example, on one hand, Walter Lack and Pierce O’Donnell — who despite a well documented trail of repeated acts of misconduct — have no or  very little displined imposed by the State Bar of California, respectively.   On the other hand , Phil Kay , Ron Gottschalk, Dan Dydzak , and many other were treated unjustly, and in accordance with said policy.

(L-R) Messrs. Gary MacDonald, Raoul Kennedy and  “Champion of Justice” Thomas Nolan (AKA Wayne Gretsky) of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP.  As was stated by California Senate President “very little bar discipline reaches the big firms.” (Image:courtesy photos)

Consistent with The Leslie Brodie Report’s commitment to integrity and adherence to the highest level of ethical journalism, and in order to report on both sides of the story, Messrs. Gary MacDonald, Raoul Kennedy, and  Thomas Nolan of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP were publicly asked  to admit, deny, or otherwise comment on what appear to be a collusive arrangement with class action plaintiffs’ lawyer Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese.

More specifically, Messrs. MacDonald, Kennedy, and Nolan of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP were asked to admit or deny  the following:

–  Admit that Skadden Arps defended the matter of Winnie the Pooh.

–  Admit that Skadden Arps defended the matter of Fogel vs. Farmers Group.

–  Admit that Skadden Arps defended the matter of In re TransPacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litigation.

–  Admit that Skadden Arps defended MGA Entertainment (Bratz Dolls) in the litigation against Mattel.

–  Admit that  Skadden Arps represents Toyota in the matter of In Re Toyota Unintended Acceleration litigation.

Skadden Arps Clients: Toyota Motor North America – Toyota Unintended Acceleration Litigation ;  Walt Disney Company – Winnie the Pooh Litigation;  Farmers Group, Inc. – Fogel v. Farmers Litigation; Thomas Girardi and Girardi & Keese – Ninth Circuit Misconduct Proceedings of Walter Lack and Thomas Girardi Known as ” In Re Girardi” ; KLM Royal Dutch Airlines-TransPacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litigation; Mattel v. MGA – Barbie/Bratz Dolls Litigation (Image: courtesy photos)

On July 14, 2010, the day after the Ninth Circuit issued the published decision, Skadden Arps and Thomas Nolan (on their behalf as well as on behalf of its clients, Girardi & Keese and Thomas Girardi) moved to redact their names from the decision. The court rejected the request, noting that redaction was not merited.

Skadden Arps and its clients were in a rush to remove their names from the Ninth Circuit’s published decision in hopes of further hiding from the public  the existence of its relationship with Girardi & Keese, see above.  Below is yet another sample of a  letter/objection alluding to the improper relationhip between Skadden Arps and Girardi & Keese.

In Addition, Messrs. MacDonald, Kennedy, and Nolan of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP were also asked to admit or deny  the following:

–  Admit that Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese represents the plaintiffs in the matter of Winnie the Pooh.

–  Admit that Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese represents the plaintiffs in the matter of of Fogel vs. Farmers Group.

–  Admit that Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese represents the plaintiffs in the matter ofof In re TransPacific Antitrust Litigation.

–  Admit that Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese represents Issac Larian – MGA  in the matter of MGA v. Mattel.

–  Admit that Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese represents the plaintiffs in the Toyota Unintended Acceleration litigation.

Moreover, Messrs. MacDonald, Kennedy, and Nolan of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP were also asked to admit or deny that Skadden Arps’ partner Alec Chang was positioned as a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors/RAD Committee (the entity that supervises and disciplines lawyers in California) as part of a conspiracy to obstruct justice, particularly in connection with the California State Bar’s mishandling of the matter of In Re Thomas Girardi — a client of Skadden Arps, as well as frequent opposing counsel in many class actions involving Skadden Arps.

A substantial factor leading to the State Bar of California’s ethical and moral collapse allowing Thomas Girardi, Skadden Arps, and others to operate with impunity was provided courtesy of individuals who fall into two categories: minorities and/or close political allies from the Democratic party. Shown above is Mr. Alec Chang of Skadden Arps. (Photo:Courtesy)

TLR is closely monitoring the situation and will keep readers apprised of comments, admissions, or denials – if any – by Messrs. Gary MacDonald, Raoul Kennedy, and  Thomas Nolan of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP on what appear to be a collusive arrangement with class action plaintiffs’ lawyer Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, and whether Alec Chang was positioned as a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors/RAD Committee (the entity that suprevises and disciplines lawyers in California) as part of a conspiracy to obstruct justice, particularly in connection with the California State Bar’s mishandling of the matter of In Re Thomas Girardi

Pat Fong Kushida has changed her mind and decided she won’t become president and chief executive of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, according to the Sacramento Business Journals.

Ms. Pat Fong Kushida CEO of Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (Image:courtesy photo)

Kushida, a longtime acquaintance of Ruthe Catolico Ashley and California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye,  was one of two noted board members (alongside James Hsu) who were with sham entity CaliforniaALL from its inception, until it was abruptly dissolved.  Both Kushida and the Sacramento Metro Chamber delivered the shocking announcement recently.

As was previously reported on The Leslie Brodie Report, Kushida, along with State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore, are both members of the California Utilities Diversity Council.

State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of GEM Communications. Both Moore and her mentor — Kamala Harris former paramour Willie Brown — were the target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Bribery and Special Interest (BRISPEC) sting operation known as Shrimpscam. On the right is Willie Brown’s “Mentee” Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Previously of Morrison & Foerster. Presently Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. West’s sister-in-law — Willie Brown’s former paramour — is California attorney general who was also part of CaliforniaALL. As previously reported, Morrison & Foerster partners Voice of OC’s James Brosnahan (who represented El Paso Corp during California Energy Crisis), Susan Mac Cormac, Raj Chatterjee, as well as former partners Tony West, Annette Carnegie, Lori Schechter and Dian Grueneich are all under extreme scrutiny in connection with the unsettling events surrounding CaliforniaALL in connection with former CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown of California Bar Foundation, State Bar of California Executive Director – Voice of OC’s Joe Dunn – who investigated the California Energy Crisis, Voice of OC’s Martha Escutia who also investigated the California Energy Crisis, and Voice of OC’s Thomas Girardi / Pierce O’Donnell who litigated matters relating to the California Energy Crisis opposing James Brosnahan  (Image: courtesy photos)

CaliforniaALL, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable entity, came about as a result of a San Francisco restaurant meeting between Ruthe Ashley (a Diversity Officer at CalPERS and Vice President of the State Bar of California) and Peter Arth, Jr., Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey. Also present at that meeting was Professor Sarah E. Redfield.

Redfield was appointed interim CEO of CalifrnoaALL, and after a simulated “nationwide search”, Ashley was appointed as CaliforniaALL permanent CEO. She abruptly quit in the same month and year when State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn launched his online publication Voice of OC with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, and James Broshanahn of Morrison & Foerster.

Donations to CaliforniaALL came primarily from utility companies (including AT&T, Sempra Energy, and PG&E). In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million, including an unlawful and unusually large sub rosa contribution of $780,000 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) in 2008.

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in July 2010.

Documents recently obtained from the Santa Ana Unified School District provide fresh circumstantial evidence that while University of New Hampshire School of Law professor Sarah E. Redfield was employed at  McGeorge School of Law, she had conspired with Ruthe Ashley and others to create a charitable entity (CaliforniaALL) that would later serve as a vehicle to misappropriate and/or launder close to $800,000 from the Foundation of the State Bar of California.

Mr. Geoffrey Brown, professor of law at JFK School of Law. Between 2001 to 2007 served as Commissioner with the CPUC. From 2006 to 2009 Brown serve as director with the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA “California Bar Foundation”). In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00 to sham entity CaliforniaALL — which also obtained additional 1.5 Million from utility companies.  In reaction to complainant’s request for an inquiry to the State Bar of California Board of Governors, Brown immediately, as though bitten by a snake, threatened to file legal action even though the communication with the BOG was absolutely privileged and justified, and only made mention of Brown in passing.  Brown is still under extreme scrutiny in matters relating Judy Johnson’s CCPF and the saga known as “Bribing Pat.” (image:courtesy photo)

According to Redfield, between 2008 and 2009 she had  “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception as even documents obtained from  the Santa Ana Unified School District make no mention of  Sarah Redfield in connection with the Saturday Academy of Law at UC Irvine.

Between 2004 and 2008, Professor Redfield served as a “visiting” professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. From 2008-2009, she served as interim Executive Director of CaliforniaALL, as well as program director.

Professor Redfield was paid $157,763 for her services, while she was misclassified as an “independent contractor.” See http://tinyurl.com/Portia-Balthazar

Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

Additionally, claims by Sarah E. Redfield to the effect that she was part of both the CURRICULUM COMMITTEE and OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE are also false, fraudulent, and were otherwise spun from whole cloth.

While Professor Redfield was part of the Oversight Committee, she was not part of the Curriculum Committee. In fact, the sources maintain that close examination of SAL Curriculum shows that it was similar to the curriculum in the years before CaliforniaALL was even established, with emphasis on exceptions to the First Amendment such as time, place, and manner.

See below, misleading claims by Professor Sarah E. Redfield, which falsely mention Curriculum Committee :

The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent transfer of $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL were also involved in assisting Joe Dunn with the creation of “Voice of OC” has caused complainant (YR) to postulate that “Voice of OC” may have been a recipient, at least in part, of the  $780,000 obtained unlawfully from the Foundation of the State Bar of California — to wit:  on one hand Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac as legal counsel for CaliforniaALL and Morrison & Foertser Annette Carnegie and Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in their capacity as BOD members of California Bar Foundation; on the other hand are Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi helping Joe Dunn with the establishment of Voice of OC.

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress — Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

YR’s belief that this is the case is heightened given the proximity in time of various events:  Ruthe Ashley left CaliforniaALL in the same month Joe Dunn launched “Voice of OC” (as though her mission had been completed). Moreover, the recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” ( as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences),  the refusal of Voice of OC to disclose IRS Forms 990,  the refusal of SAL-UCI to disclose the amount it received from CaliforniaALL, the simulated RFP, and CaliforniaALL’s pre-selection of the UCI Foundation as a recipient of funds (where Joe Dunn serves as Trustee) only reinforce this belief.  This is heightened by Mr. Thomas Girardi’s lack of credibility (pursuant to findings made by a panel of federal judges in the matter of In Re Girardi), and the well-documented friendship he shares with Joe Dunn.

CaliforniaALL Part 5

According to confidential sources, the Board of Governors of the State
Bar of California has been asked to formally investigate improprieties
surrounding CaliforniaALL.

The letter is dated February 28, 2011. As a service to the public, it
is published in its entirety below:

Dear President Hebert, Senator Dunn, Members BOG, Foundation BOD, and
to whom it may concern :

This will serve to inform the Board of Governors (“BOG”) and to
officially request an investigation into alleged fraudulent
transactions, financial irregularities, and unlawful conduct by
staff, executives and officers of both the State Bar of California and
California Bar Foundation (past and present) in connection with
circumstances surrounding CaliforniaALL.

CaliforniaALL was a charitable entity established in 2008 for the
purpose of raising funds to be used to support reductions in the
achievement gap in California. It represented to the public that it
is a “partner” of the State Bar of California.

Ruthe Catolico Ashley , a Diversity Officer at CalPERS who also served
as the Vice-President of the State Bar of California was the driving
force behind the creation of “CaAAL” , a name later changed to
CaliforniaALL.

Donations to CaliforniaALL came primarily from utility companies
(including AT&T, Sempra Energy, and PG&E). In its brief existence
from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million,
including an unusually large sub-rosa contribution of $780,000 from
the State Bar of California Foundation in 2008.

Other than in Foundation tax records and a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its
2008 annual report, the sub-rosa contribution was never mentioned
again — not by the State Bar of California, not in the Cal Bar
Journal, not in theFoundation’s “newsroom,” and not by anyone or any
publication of CaliforniaALL.

CaliforniaALL awarded only one grant in the amount of $100,000 to UCI
Foundation, where Senator Dunn served as trustee. CaliforniaALL was
abruptly dissolved in July 2010.

I am absolutely convinced that unlawful transactions and ethical
breaches, which are too numerous to describe, were at play in this
situation. An objective outsider could reasonably believe that
CaliforniaALL was created for the sole purpose of allowing utility
companies and the State Bar Foundation to pour money into it, which
would later be improperly utilized.

Over the past few weeks, my inquiries have led me to notify the
appropriate entities of my suspicions. In that I believe that, to a
certain extent, the BOG itself was misled and or was not given
complete information, I am setting out a brief summary of the facts
below:

Geoffrey F. Brown was appointed Commissioner of the California CPUC in
2001. He served in the position until January 2007.

In 2006, Mr. Brown assumed a director position with the State Bar of
California Foundation, which he relinquished in 2009.

Starting in 2004, and probably prior, the honorable BOG member Gwen
Moore appeared before and otherwise communicated to the CPUC her
desire that the CPUC pressure utility companies to show improvement in
achieving diversity, such as in hiring, contracting, procurement
opportunities and the like consistent with CPUC General Order 156 (GO
156) whom Ms. Moore had authored.

At times, Senator Martha Escutia, Chair of the Senate Committee on
Energy, Utilities and Communications (EU&C) also participated in
meetings with the CPUC concerning diversity. She is a founding member
of The Senators (Ret.) firm, LLP, as is Senator Dunn.

In mid-2007, Peter Arth Jr., Chief of Staff to CPUC’s President
Peevey, invited Ruthe Ashley, Vice-President of the State Bar, to meet
him for dinner. A plan was executed on a paper napkin. Within weeks of
this dinner meeting, the BOG and CalPERS were presented with the
request to enter into a partnership with what was than known as CaAAL
which was later changed to CaliforniaALL.

Ruthe Ashley and Patricia Lee represented to the BOG that there would
be no impact on the State Bar Budget as a result of the partnership
with CaliforniaALL.

In November 2007, CaliforniaALL’s Board of Directors held its first
meeting. Ashley was later hired as the founding president and CEO of
CaliforniaALL. Subsequently, CaliforniaALL’s grant of $100,000 to UCI
Foundation was accompanied by many press releases and media events.
In September of 2009, Ashley abruptly quit her CEO position. The
entity was dissolved in June of 2010.

Based on my calculations, a sum estimated to be between $700,000 to
$900,000 is still unaccounted for. Hence, my request for an
investigation.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Please contact me if
you have any questions or require further information.

CaliforniaALL Part 17

* The Leslie Brodie Report (TLR) urges the readers to exercise caution and not jump to conclusions regarding misconduct by anyone. We are carefully following a major developing story out of California, and will provide around-the-clock coverage and post updates as they become available.

CaliforniaALL, a 501(c)(3) charitable entity, was the brainchild of Ruthe Ashley (a Diversity Officer at CalPERS and Vice-President of the State Bar of California) and Peter Arth Jr., Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey.

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation.)

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June of 2010.

“THE VOICE OF OC” TEAM — Girardi & Keese‘s Thomas Girardi , Morrison & Foerster‘s James Brosnahan, and Joe Dunn.  In Septermber of 2009, Dunn (with the help of Girardi and Brosnahan) launched “The Voice of Orange County” — an online publication.  Additionaly, Dunn is a trustee with the UCI Foundation — an entity which absorbed most of the grants CaliforniaALL had bestowed.

Sources with knowledge of the inquiry into CaliforniaALL, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintain the ongoing multi-prong inquiry is continuing and expanding, and that a red flag has been raised over Joe Dunn, “The Voice of OC”, Thomas Girardi, and James Brosnahan due to convenient circumstances surrounding CaliforniaALL, UCI Foundation, Voice of OC, and Cal Bar Foundation.

Recently, Mr. Dunn was informed about the existence of convenient circumstances surrounding CaliforniaALL and his publication –  “Voice of OC.”  We shall publish the letter, below:

Dear Senator Dunn:

This is to inform you that, in connection with my inquiry into the charitable entity known as CaliforniaALL, circumstantial evidence points to potential wrongdoing on your part as well as on the part of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrsion & Foerster.

Please note that in referring to “you,” I also refer to The Voice of Orange County (“Voice of OC”), the online newspaper you established in September 2009 with the assistance of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

As you may recall, CaliforniaALL was established after a meeting between Ruthe Ashley, Sarah Redfield, and CPUC’s Peter Arth.

Ashley, a Diversity Officer at CalPERS and a member of the California Board of Governors, bamboozled the State Bar, CalPERS, the CPUC, and the Department of Insurance into endorsing the proposition. My suspicion — thus far unconfirmed — is that Howard Rice was involved in asking its client Steve Poizner to issue a letter supporting the measure.

Morrison & Foerster, specifically Susan Mac Cormac and Eric Tate, assisted with the legal aspects of creating the entity. (Presently, I am unsure of the extent of the involvement, if any, of Lori Schechter, wife of current State Bar President William Hebert. If there was any involvement, I please ask that such information be disclosed to me.)

Later, Sarah Redfield assumed the position of CaliforniaALL’s Interim CEO; after a simulated search for a CEO, Ruthe Ashley was hired as the entity’s president and CEO.

CAL BAR FOUNDATION TEAM –  Howard Rice‘s Doug Winthrop, Buchalter Nemer’s Holly Fujie,Girardi & Keese‘s Howard Miller, and former CPUC Commisioner Goeffrey Brown. Arranged for the unlawful “hush-hush” transfer of $780,000 from  Cal Bar Foundation to sham charity CaliforniaALL.

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the BOG) made a quiet and unlawful transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL. At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Geoffrey Brown, and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

During its brief existence, CaliforniaALL obtained additional funding of close to $1.5 million from utility companies such as Verizon Wireless, Sempra, PG&E, and others.

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where you serve as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee. (Please note that this figure may change once I obtain CaliforniaALL’s final tax return.)

Note that from my perspective, the award of this grant is suspect as it appears that CaliforniaALL pre-selected UCI Foundation, making the simulated request for proposal (RFP) by Sarah Redfield that led to the grant a sham process. (Note also that Sarah Redfield later falsely claimed she “launched” SAL-UCI, and falsely stated on her resume that she was part of the “Curriculum Committee”; in reality, you and I know that SAL-UCI was established by Santana Ruiz and Rob Vicario, several years earlier.)

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, you publicly launched your online publication, “The Voice of OC.” Public sources have stated that the Voice of OC was financed by various foundations, unions, and the like.

The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent unlawful transfer of $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL were also involved in assisting you with the creation of “Voice of OC” has caused me to entertain the thought that “Voice of OC” may have been a recipient, at least in part, of the $780,000 misappropriated from the State Bar of California.

This belief is heightened given various events’ proximity in time — as noted above, Ruthe Ashley left CaliforniaALL in the same month you launched “Voice of OC” (as though her mission had been completed). Moreover, the recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” ( as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences), the refusal of SAL-UCI to disclose the amount it receive from CaliforniaALL, the simulated RFP, and CaliforniaALL’s pre-selection of the UCI Foundation as a recipient of funds only reinforce this belief. This is heightened by Mr. Thomas Girardi’s lack of credibility (pursuant to findings made by a panel of federal judges), and the friendship you share with him (as you will recall, you participated in a special event held at the Beverly Hills Hotel to honor Mr. Girardi several years ago).

Consequently, and in addition to the above, I also must ask you to relinquish your position with the UCI Foundation. Since you assumed the position of executive director, any contributions made to the UCI foundation could be perceived as an attempt to gain favors with the State Bar of California.

Thank you for your time.

For an important update, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/11/23/voice-of-oc-orange-county-s-nonprofit-investigative-news-agency-subject-of-formal-complaint-referral-to-irs-for-alleged-noncompliance-with-tax-la-12207865/

Attorney Search

Mimi Yang – #229514

Profile Information

The following information is from the official records of The State Bar of California.

I have a decision document written by State Bar Court Judge Robert Talcott that says the Bar presented to him false declarations. Weiner, Goochis, Malloy and Watson along with Drexel were treated how they have treated others and they didn’t like it. The legislature has the State Bar in it’s cross-hairs because for years the Bar lied to the legislature, according to some legislative aides I have spoken to. In addition the Bar told the legislature they would have a shortfall of money then had a #3 million dollar surplus. Facing a deficit the legislature took offense at the State Bar’s misrepresentations.

The firings of the Bar workers and the subsequent clearing of the backlog of cases shows that the bar was dragging out matters to fill the time for prosecutors to work. The Cal Bar has removed the licenses of lawyers suing banks to stop litigation against banks. The NY Bar is assisting NY lawyers suing the banks for banking misconduct and regulatory violations against consumers.
The Calif legislature has reformed the Bar to a degree. It has changed the Bar Corporation body name from Governors to Trustees[The Calif. Bar is a Corporation]. Only 6 lawyers are now elected trustees the remainder are appointed.
The real change is coming as 60-75% of all law school students are now women. I expect them to change things quite a bit, but only time will tell.

I disagree with David Carr, who is a former Bar prosecutor and currently a Bar defense attorney. These people knew that sometimes false evidence was being used and that, as former Bar Prosecutor told me, these prosecutors would regularly talk ex-parte with State Bar Court Judges. Talking ex-parte and presented false evidence in Bar proceedings isn’t honest. People who do such things are not honest. David Carr knows full well that the Bar proposes rules that even ethics attorneys argue when and how apply. Such ambiguity allows the bar prosecutors to target some people and leave others Alone. Lots of room for improvement at the State Bar.

Related stories:

http://tinyurl.com/7n8xuk2

AND @:

http://tinyurl.com/82c5dqo

The pace of drama from Morrison & Foerster surrounding events at the CPUC, State Bar of California, and sham entity CaliforniaALL is quickening.

The Leslie Brodie Report has learned that partners Lori Schechter and Dian Grueneich are no longer with the firm.

Please continue @:

http://tinyurl.com/car5htm

Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) — Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice — is under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Sources with knowledge, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintain a red flag has been raised over West due to the overall circumstances surrounding non-profit entity CaliforniaALL; Voice of OC; Morrison & Foerster (“MoFo”); MoFo’s James Brosnahan of Voice of OC ; California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) ; State Bar of California executive-director Joe Dunn and Martha Escutia of Voice of OC ; CaliforniaALL’s Kamala Harris ; Willie Brown and protégés — State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam, as well as CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon also of CaliforniaALL.

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general who was part of sham non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

CaliforniaALL

Ms. Ruth Ashley, a former member of the State bar of California Board of Governors, arranged with others the subrosa transfer of $769,247.00 from the State Bar to a chritable entity — CaliforniaALL — which was under her control. (Photo: courtesy)

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth (Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey) at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. According to Ashley, all three arrived for the “brainstorming session” without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin which were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL’s now defunct website below:

Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley’s version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency. In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS — where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC.

On June 26, 2007, Ruth Ashley presented to the BOG the concept of California ALL, and recommnended that the State Bar support the organization.

Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Serving as CaliforniaALL legal counsel were two partners from Morrison & Foerster, Ms. Susan Mac Cormac and Eric Tate. See below:

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with the plan and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on. Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.

Miramontes, a resident of San Antonio, Texas is associated with CityView, a Los Angeles-based entity controlled by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below:

Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL’s Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an “independent contractor” in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

Thus, it was now time for Ruthe Ashley to make her appearance. She did so in June of 2008. CaliforniaALL issued multiple press releases announcing that Ruthe Ashley would serve as CaliforniaALL’s CEO.

Incidentally, Ashley and her attorneys represented to the IRS in returns bearing her signature that she was hired after a “nationwide search”, see below:

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

CaliforniaALL’s was housed at: 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400 Sacramento, California 95814. This adress is actually the adress of the law-offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento. In its publication, CaliforniaALL thanked DLA Piper for offering pro-bono space in the Sacramento office. Yet, in CaliforniaALL’s tax-return signed by Ruthe Ashley, an expense in the amount of $16,457 for “occupancy” is listed. (See two images below)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa Hush-Hush contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation).

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the State Bar of California Board of Governors) made a quiet transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL.

At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster (the one and the same Morrison & Foerster which served as legal counsel to CaliforniaALL through Eric Tate Susan Mac Cormac) , and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn (future owner of Voice of OC) serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

Voice of OC original members of the Board of Directors(L-R) UCI Law Professor Henry Winestein, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn, and UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley , as though her mission had been completed, abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, State Bar of California Executive Director , Mr. Joe Dunn, publicly launched the online publication “The Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

Also on September of 2009, CaliforniaALL saw fit to honor State Bar of California Board of Governors member Shrimpscam Gwen Moore — an appointee of Karen Bass and a confederate of fellow BOG member Jeannine English from the Little Hoover Commission:

Shockingly, and to add insult to injury, Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California would later claim

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR)

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

Documents obtained from the Santa Ana Unified School District provide fresh circumstantial evidence that while University of New Hampshire School of Law professor Sarah E. Redfield was employed at  McGeorge School of Law, she had conspired with Ruthe Ashley and others to create a charitable entity (CaliforniaALL) that would later serve as a vehicle to misappropriate and/or launder close to $800,000 from the Foundation of the State Bar of California.

Sarah E. Redfield of University of New Hampshire School of Law (image:courtesy photo)

According to Redfield, between 2008 and 2009 she had  “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception as even documents obtained from  the Santa Ana Unified School District make no mention of  Sarah Redfield in connection with the Saturday Academy of Law at UC Irvine.

Between 2004 and 2008, Professor Redfield served as a “visiting” professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. From 2008-2009, she served as interim Executive Director of CaliforniaALL, as well as program director.

Professor Redfield was paid $157,763 for her services, while she was misclassified as an “independent contractor.” See http://tinyurl.com/Portia-Balthazar

Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

Additionally, claims by Sarah E. Redfield to the effect that she was part of both the CURRICULUM COMMITTEE and OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE are also false, fraudulent, and were otherwise spun from whole cloth.

While Professor Redfield was part of the Oversight Committee, she was not part of the Curriculum Committee. In fact, the sources maintain that close examination of SAL Curriculum shows that it was similar to the curriculum in the years before CaliforniaALL was even established, with emphasis on exceptions to the First Amendment such as time, place, and manner.

See below, misleading claims by Professor Sarah E. Redfield, which falsely mention Curriculum Committee. :

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa contribution of $780,000.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation.)   It  was abruptly dissolved in June of 2010.

To date, data collected shows that CaliforniaALL (which was supposed to forward most of those funds) transferred between $300,000 to $400,000 to the UCI Foundation (where Joe Dunn serves as trustee), spent an unknown amount to honor Gwen Moore at a lavish dinner held at a luxury hotel in Sacramento, paid for other incidental expenses such as salaries, and subsequent to moving out from the offices of DLA Piper to a more modest location , paid for a UPS Store mail box slot in Citrus Heights.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, Joe Dunn publicly launched the online publication –  ” Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan.

VOICE OF OC TEAM (ORIGINAL BOD) — UCI’s Henry Weinstein, Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan, Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi, Joe Dunn, Martha Escutia, and UCI’s Erwin Chemerinsky

The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent  transfer of $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL were also involved in assisting Joe Dunn with the creation of “Voice of OC” has caused complainant to entertain the thought that “Voice of OC” may have been a recipient, at least in part, of the $780,000 obtained from the Foundation of the State Bar of California. To wit: on one hand Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac as legal counsel for CaliforniaALL; Morrison & Foertser Annette Carnegie and  Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in their capacity as BOD members of California Bar Foundation. On the other hand Morrison &Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi as part of helping Joe Dunn with the establishment of Voice of OC.

The belief is heightened given various events’ proximity in time –  Ruthe Ashley left CaliforniaALL in the same month Joe Dunn  launched “Voice of OC”  (as though her mission had been completed). Moreover, the recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” ( as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences), the refusal of SAL-UCI to disclose the amount it receive from CaliforniaALL, the simulated RFP, and CaliforniaALL’s pre-selection of the UCI Foundation as a recipient of funds only reinforce this belief. This is heightened by Mr. Thomas Girardi’s lack of credibility (pursuant to findings made by a panel of federal judges), and the friendship Joe Dunn shares with him.

According to the sources, while there is not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, his prior work with Brosnahan as well as the eerie coincidence that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL and Voice of OC were also in support of his conformation in 2009, requires further understanding of event, if only to examine potential conflict of interests should the DOJ ever investigate Voice of OC and/or CaliforniaALL — both entities with very close ties to Morrison & Foerster, and especially partner James Brosnahan.

Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) — Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice — is under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Sources with knowledge, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintain a red flag has been raised over West due to the overall circumstances surrounding non-profit entity CaliforniaALL; Voice of OC; Morrison & Foerster (“MoFo”); MoFo’s James Brosnahan of Voice of OC ; California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) ; State Bar of California executive-director Joe Dunn and Martha Escutia of Voice of OC ; CaliforniaALL’s Kamala Harris ; Willie Brown and protégés — State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam, as well as CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon also of CaliforniaALL.

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general who was part of sham non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

CaliforniaALL

Ms. Ruth Ashley, a former member of the State bar of California Board of Governors, arranged with others the subrosa transfer of $769,247.00 from the State Bar to a chritable entity — CaliforniaALL — which was under her control. (Photo: courtesy)

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth (Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey) at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. According to Ashley, all three arrived for the “brainstorming session” without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin which were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL’s now defunct website below:

Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley’s version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency. In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS — where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC.

On June 26, 2007, Ruth Ashley presented to the BOG the concept of California ALL, and recommnended that the State Bar support the organization.

Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Serving as CaliforniaALL legal counsel were two partners from Morrison & Foerster, Ms. Susan Mac Cormac and Eric Tate. See below:

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with the plan and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on. Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.

Miramontes, a resident of San Antonio, Texas is associated with CityView, a Los Angeles-based entity controlled by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below:

Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL’s Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an “independent contractor” in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

Thus, it was now time for Ruthe Ashley to make her appearance. She did so in June of 2008. CaliforniaALL issued multiple press releases announcing that Ruthe Ashley would serve as CaliforniaALL’s CEO.

Incidentally, Ashley and her attorneys represented to the IRS in returns bearing her signature that she was hired after a “nationwide search”, see below:

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

CaliforniaALL’s was housed at: 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400 Sacramento, California 95814. This adress is actually the adress of the law-offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento. In its publication, CaliforniaALL thanked DLA Piper for offering pro-bono space in the Sacramento office. Yet, in CaliforniaALL’s tax-return signed by Ruthe Ashley, an expense in the amount of $16,457 for “occupancy” is listed. (See two images below)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa Hush-Hush contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation).

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the State Bar of California Board of Governors) made a quiet transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL.

At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster (the one and the same Morrison & Foerster which served as legal counsel to CaliforniaALL through Eric Tate Susan Mac Cormac) , and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn (future owner of Voice of OC) serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

Voice of OC original members of the Board of Directors(L-R) UCI Law Professor Henry Winestein, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn, and UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley , as though her mission had been completed, abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, State Bar of California Executive Director , Mr. Joe Dunn, publicly launched the online publication “The Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

Also on September of 2009, CaliforniaALL saw fit to honor State Bar of California Board of Governors member Shrimpscam Gwen Moore — an appointee of Karen Bass and a confederate of fellow BOG member Jeannine English from the Little Hoover Commission:

Shockingly, and to add insult to injury, Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California would later claim

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR)

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

Documents obtained from the Santa Ana Unified School District provide fresh circumstantial evidence that while University of New Hampshire School of Law professor Sarah E. Redfield was employed at  McGeorge School of Law, she had conspired with Ruthe Ashley and others to create a charitable entity (CaliforniaALL) that would later serve as a vehicle to misappropriate and/or launder close to $800,000 from the Foundation of the State Bar of California.

Sarah E. Redfield of University of New Hampshire School of Law (image:courtesy photo)

According to Redfield, between 2008 and 2009 she had  “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception as even documents obtained from  the Santa Ana Unified School District make no mention of  Sarah Redfield in connection with the Saturday Academy of Law at UC Irvine.

Between 2004 and 2008, Professor Redfield served as a “visiting” professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. From 2008-2009, she served as interim Executive Director of CaliforniaALL, as well as program director.

Professor Redfield was paid $157,763 for her services, while she was misclassified as an “independent contractor.” See http://tinyurl.com/Portia-Balthazar

Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

Additionally, claims by Sarah E. Redfield to the effect that she was part of both the CURRICULUM COMMITTEE and OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE are also false, fraudulent, and were otherwise spun from whole cloth.

While Professor Redfield was part of the Oversight Committee, she was not part of the Curriculum Committee. In fact, the sources maintain that close examination of SAL Curriculum shows that it was similar to the curriculum in the years before CaliforniaALL was even established, with emphasis on exceptions to the First Amendment such as time, place, and manner.

See below, misleading claims by Professor Sarah E. Redfield, which falsely mention Curriculum Committee. :

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa contribution of $780,000.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation.)   It  was abruptly dissolved in June of 2010.

To date, data collected shows that CaliforniaALL (which was supposed to forward most of those funds) transferred between $300,000 to $400,000 to the UCI Foundation (where Joe Dunn serves as trustee), spent an unknown amount to honor Gwen Moore at a lavish dinner held at a luxury hotel in Sacramento, paid for other incidental expenses such as salaries, and subsequent to moving out from the offices of DLA Piper to a more modest location , paid for a UPS Store mail box slot in Citrus Heights.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, Joe Dunn publicly launched the online publication –  ” Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan.

VOICE OF OC TEAM (ORIGINAL BOD) — UCI’s Henry Weinstein, Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan, Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi, Joe Dunn, Martha Escutia, and UCI’s Erwin Chemerinsky

The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent  transfer of $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL were also involved in assisting Joe Dunn with the creation of “Voice of OC” has caused complainant to entertain the thought that “Voice of OC” may have been a recipient, at least in part, of the $780,000 obtained from the Foundation of the State Bar of California. To wit: on one hand Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac as legal counsel for CaliforniaALL; Morrison & Foertser Annette Carnegie and  Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in their capacity as BOD members of California Bar Foundation. On the other hand Morrison &Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi as part of helping Joe Dunn with the establishment of Voice of OC.

The belief is heightened given various events’ proximity in time –  Ruthe Ashley left CaliforniaALL in the same month Joe Dunn  launched “Voice of OC”  (as though her mission had been completed). Moreover, the recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” ( as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences), the refusal of SAL-UCI to disclose the amount it receive from CaliforniaALL, the simulated RFP, and CaliforniaALL’s pre-selection of the UCI Foundation as a recipient of funds only reinforce this belief. This is heightened by Mr. Thomas Girardi’s lack of credibility (pursuant to findings made by a panel of federal judges), and the friendship Joe Dunn shares with him.

According to the sources, while there is not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, his prior work with Brosnahan as well as the eerie coincidence that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL and Voice of OC were also in support of his conformation in 2009, requires further understanding of event, if only to examine potential conflict of interests should the DOJ ever investigate Voice of OC and/or CaliforniaALL — both entities with very close ties to Morrison & Foerster, and especially partner James Brosnahan.

The Leslie Brodie Report (TLR) is carefully following a major developing story out of California relating to the former governor of California ,  Arnold Schwarzenegger.

According to knowledgeable sources,  Schwarzenegger was allegedly blackmailed by Howard Miller of Girardi & Keese who allegedly obtained copies of 150 sexual harassment settlements involving Schwarzenegger from JAMS –  a private alternative dispute resolution provider.

The sources maintain the information was used to pressure Schwarzenegger  into nominating Tani Cantill-Sakauye as Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, as well as signing into law the State Bar Act which Schwarzenegger had vetoed on a prior occasion.

TLR is gathering and analyzing data concerning the above, and will post update as they become available.

California Bar Foundation 2012 BOD (Note: 1- Error Re Year 2011 ; 2- Notice Judge Holly Fujie VP Despite Discrimination on Basis of Race 3- Notice Raj Chatterjee, Jon Streeter, Alec Chang and – of course – Douglas Winthrop)

Source:

http://calbarfoundation.org/about/board.html

2011 Board of Directors (2011 should be 2012)

Douglas A. Winthrop, President
Arnold & Porter LLP

Hon. Holly J. Fujie, Vice President
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Joan Kupersmith Larkin, Vice President
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Frederick Brown, Secretary
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

David Grove, Treasurer
Vaquero Capital

Sonia Gonzales, Executive Director
California Bar Foundation

Raul Ayala
Office of the Federal Public Defender

Ronald L. Blanc
Arnold & Porter LLP

Debora Buljat
General Dynamics NASSCO

Alec Y. Chang
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

S. Raj Chatterjee
Morrison & Foerster LLP

Julia De Beers
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Hon. Marguerite D. Downing
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Nancy L. Fineman
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy

Sandra S. Fujiyama
Sidley Austin LLP

Steven H. Goldberg
Downey Brand

Martha K. Gooding
Jones Day

Dean Hansell
Dewey & LeBoeuf, LLP

Ray Hartman
DLA Piper LLP (US)

Geoffrey Holtz
Bingham McCutchen LLP

Robert D. Infelise
Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP

Paul V. Konovalov
Latham & Watkins LLP

Justin T. Miller
BNY Mellon Wealth Management

Amy M. Ross
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Thomas Silk
SILK NONPROFIT LAW

Dianne Baquet Smith
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Jon Streeter
Keker & Van Nest

Christy Susman
Jack Daniels Properties, Inc.

Julie Taylor
Keesal, Young & Logan

Paul Tepper
Western Center on Law and Poverty

Mary Ann Todd
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

Richard Tom
Southern California Edison

Karen E. Walter
Rutan & Tucker, LLP

Nancy Whang
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Shawn Williams
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

California Bar Foundation — 180 Howard Street — S

State utility regulators are being asked to reconsider whether a leading advocacy group for utility customers can still participate in utility-rate proceedings that are at the core of the group’s mission.

The Utility Consumers’ Action Network, or UCAN, has filed for dissolution in federal court amid allegations of secret bank accounts, illegal payments and an impostor lawyer.

The allegations are the subject of a federal grand jury subpoena, and a breach-of-duty lawsuit also has been filed by two UCAN whistle-blowers against the group’s board of directors, its chief operating officer and executive director Michael Shames.

In a motion filed this week with the California Public Utilities Commission, UCAN member and former employee Phillip Moskal said the utility watchdog abandoned its estimated 31,000 dues paying members when its board filed for dissolution in state court.

Please continue @:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/03/new-challenge-against-utility-group/

State Bar of California Judy Johnson’s California Consumer Protection Foundation (“CCPF”), please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/01/02/california-consumer-protection-foun…

AND @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/tag/ccpf

Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) — Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice — is under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Sources with knowledge, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintain a red flag has been raised over West due to the overall circumstances surrounding non-profit entity CaliforniaALL; Voice of OC; Morrison & Foerster (“MoFo”); MoFo’s James Brosnahan of Voice of OC ; California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) ; State Bar of California executive-director Joe Dunn and Martha Escutia of Voice of OC ; CaliforniaALL’s Kamala Harris ; Willie Brown and protégés — State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam, as well as CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon also of CaliforniaALL.

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general who was part of sham non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

CaliforniaALL

Ms. Ruth Ashley, a former member of the State bar of California Board of Governors, arranged with others the subrosa transfer of $769,247.00 from the State Bar to a chritable entity — CaliforniaALL — which was under her control. (Photo: courtesy)

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth (Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey) at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. According to Ashley, all three arrived for the “brainstorming session” without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin which were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL’s now defunct website below:

Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley’s version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency. In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS — where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC.

On June 26, 2007, Ruth Ashley presented to the BOG the concept of California ALL, and recommnended that the State Bar support the organization.

Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Serving as CaliforniaALL legal counsel were two partners from Morrison & Foerster, Ms. Susan Mac Cormac and Eric Tate. See below:

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with the plan and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on. Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.

Miramontes, a resident of San Antonio, Texas is associated with CityView, a Los Angeles-based entity controlled by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below:

Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL’s Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an “independent contractor” in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

Thus, it was now time for Ruthe Ashley to make her appearance. She did so in June of 2008. CaliforniaALL issued multiple press releases announcing that Ruthe Ashley would serve as CaliforniaALL’s CEO.

Incidentally, Ashley and her attorneys represented to the IRS in returns bearing her signature that she was hired after a “nationwide search”, see below:

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

CaliforniaALL’s was housed at: 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400 Sacramento, California 95814. This adress is actually the adress of the law-offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento. In its publication, CaliforniaALL thanked DLA Piper for offering pro-bono space in the Sacramento office. Yet, in CaliforniaALL’s tax-return signed by Ruthe Ashley, an expense in the amount of $16,457 for “occupancy” is listed. (See two images below)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa Hush-Hush contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation).

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the State Bar of California Board of Governors) made a quiet transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL.

At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster (the one and the same Morrison & Foerster which served as legal counsel to CaliforniaALL through Eric Tate Susan Mac Cormac) , and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn (future owner of Voice of OC) serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

Voice of OC original members of the Board of Directors(L-R) UCI Law Professor Henry Winestein, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn, and UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley , as though her mission had been completed, abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, State Bar of California Executive Director , Mr. Joe Dunn, publicly launched the online publication “The Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

Also on September of 2009, CaliforniaALL saw fit to honor State Bar of California Board of Governors member Shrimpscam Gwen Moore — an appointee of Karen Bass and a confederate of fellow BOG member Jeannine English from the Little Hoover Commission:

Shockingly, and to add insult to injury, Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California would later claim

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR)

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

UCI Foundation allegedly used the money it obtained from CaliforniaALL to launch a “Saturday Law Academy. ” According to Professor Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

According to the sources, while there is not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, his prior work with Brosnahan as well as the eerie coincidence that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL and Voice of OC were also in support of his conformation in 2009, requires further understanding of event, if only to examine potential conflict of interests should the DOJ ever investigate Voice of OC and/or CaliforniaALL — both entities with very close ties to Morrison & Foerster, and especially partner James Brosnahan.

Voice of OC

Due to unsettling circumstances surrounding CaliforniaALL, Joe Dunn, and the Voice of OC), the complainant asked Voice of OC to produce its tax returns for the past 3 years.

Specifically, the following circumstances surrounding Voice of OC have caused concerns:

1. Senator Martha Escutia, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications (EU&C) also participated in meetings with the CPUC concerning diversity. She is a founding member of The Senators (Ret.) firm, LLP, as is Joe Dunn.

2. The fact that some individuals and entities involved in the creation of CaliforniaALL and the subsequent transfer of $769,247.00 from the Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, were also involved in assisting Joe Dunn with the creation of “Voice of OC” to wit – on one hand Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac as legal counsel for CaliforniaALL; Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller in his capacity as BOD member of Cal Bar Foundation, as well as BOG members who voted to endorse CaliforniaALL and consider it to have been a partner of the State Bar of California. On the other hand Morrison &Foerster’s James Brosnahan and Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi as part of helping Joe Dunn with the establishment of Voice of OC.

3. CaliforniaALL was to transfer funds forward. It did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where Joe Dunn serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee. It appears that CaliforniaALL preselected UCI Foundation, making a prior simulated request for proposal (RFP) by Sarah Redfield that led to the grant – a sham process.

4. In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. That same month, Joe Dunn publicly launched his online publication, “Voice of OC.” (as though Ashley’s mission had been completed).

5. The recent abrupt departure of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan from ‘Voice of OC” (as though they were fleeing the scene with guilty consciences).

On September 1, 2011, Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency and Voice of OC (collectively, “Voice of OC”) were duly served with a request for production of IRS Form 990, Form 990 Schedule A, and Form 1023. To date, this request to produce Voice of OC’s tax returns has been ignored, despite the clear mandate by the Internal Revenue Service to fully comply with such requests within 30 days.

Source:

http://www.calbarjournal.com/February2012/TopHeadlines/TH3.aspx

Bringing with her a deep understanding of disparities within the American justice system, Sonia Gonzales’ self-imposed goal as the new executive director of the California Bar Foundation is to listen.

Sonia Gonzales

Listening, explained the former acting head of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, is key to expanding the universe of those who support the foundation’s mission to increase access to justice. Gonzales’ official first day with the foundation was January 17.

“The legal community as a whole has a responsibility to help improve access to appropriate legal services for all Californians, especially those from low-income or ethnic minority communities,” said Gonzales, a product of Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley’s School of Law. “We will be judged on how we treat the least among us.”

After joining the Lawyers’ Committee in January 2010 as managing director, Gonzales led an organization-wide rebuild, including the development and implementation of the first new strategic plan in a decade. She was named interim executive director in August 2011.

She currently serves on the board of Centro Legal de la Raza, and was a member of the Civil Rights Task Force for Attorney General Kamala Harris’ transition team.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area dates back to 1968 and is affiliated with the national Lawyers’ Committee in advancing, protecting and promoting the rights of communities of color, immigrants and refugees. Recent projects include advocacy on behalf of the minority-owned businesses and formerly incarcerated, plus work to help implement the protections of the California Voting Rights Act.

Before joining the Lawyers’ Committee, Gonzales served as assistant director of the ACLU of Northern California, where she helped manage the largest ACLU affiliate in the United States, with a staff of 60, a board of directors of 50 and more than 53,000 members.

Previously, she worked at the Morrison & Foerster firm in San Francisco and, as a law student, at the National ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project and the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman firm.

Prior to law school, Gonzales served as a political director for a major presidential campaign in 2004 and for the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., and as a legislative assistant and press secretary in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The success of the Bar Foundation’s mission depends on the collective effort of our board and staff, donors and grantees, plus the State Bar and other community partners that recognize the importance of helping California’s most disadvantaged residents,” Gonzales added. “This has everything to do with equality under the law.”

Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general.

Mr. West shares a laugh with sister-in-law Kamala Harris former paramour who is like an albatross hanging around her neck — Willie Brown ( an otherwise a confederate of CPUC insider and State Bar of California Board of Governor member Gwen Moore.)

From left, Ms. Lateefah Simon (spouse of CPUC Commissioner and Golden Gate University Professor Timothy Alan Simon); Mr Tony West; Mr. John Burris, a well-known and well-respected civil rights attorney whom TLR previously introduce to its readers in connection with former crack-addict Mike Nisperos during a trip to CNMI HERE.

CaliforniaALL

Ms. Ruth Ashley, a former member of the State bar of California Board of Governors, arranged with others the subrosa transfer of $769,247.00 from the State Bar to a chritable entity — CaliforniaALL — which was under her control. (Photo: courtesy)

In approximately 2007, Ruthe Catolico Ashley — an attorney from Sacramento and a member of the State Bar of California Board of Governors — was employed by CalPERS as a “Diversity Officer.” Prior to her employment with CalPERS, Ms. Ashley was employed as a diversity officer at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. While at McGeorge, Ms. Ashley met diversity expert Sarah Redfield.

In April 2007, Ashley, along with Sarah Redfield, met Peter Arth (Chief of Staff to CPUC President Michael Peevey) at a restaurant in San Francisco. During that meeting the idea to create CaliforniaALL was conceived. According to Ashley, all three arrived for the “brainstorming session” without any notepads; they quickly improvised and resorted to recording notes on a paper napkin which were the cornerstones of CaliforniaALL. See an excerpt from CaliforniaALL’s now defunct website below:

Urban legend notwithstanding, Ashley’s version of events is slightly inaccurate, as Sarah Redfield (a visiting professor from New Hampshire who Ashley met at McGeorge School of Law) is not a member of the California Bar, and was not representing any governmental agency. In actuality, Ruthe Ashley acted on behalf of both the State Bar California and CalPERS — where she was at the time employed as a Diversity Officer. Pete Arth, an attorney with the CPUC, spoke on behalf of the CPUC.

On June 26, 2007, Ruth Ashley presented to the BOG the concept of California ALL, and recommnended that the State Bar support the organization.

Eventually, CalPERS, CPUC, and the State Bar of California endorsed in principle the creation of CaliforniaALL – a Section 501(c)(3) entity that would raise funds to be used to support a more diverse workforce in California.

Serving as CaliforniaALL legal counsel were two partners from Morrison & Foerster, Ms. Susan Mac Cormac and Eric Tate. See below:

Morrison & Foerster Team (L-R) Ms. Dian Grueneich — Former Commissioner with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”); Mr. Raj Chatterjee — current board member of the Foundation of State Bar of California (DBA California Bar Foundation, entity headed by Arnold & Porter’s Douglas Winthrop formerly of Howard Rice) ; Ms. Susan Mac Cormac — part of legal team which created entity CaliforniaALL, Mac Cormac was recently awarded “Rainmaker of the Year” by James Brosnahan’s alleged former mistress Marty Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa; Mr. Tony West; Mr. James J. Brosnahan of “Voice of OC” who represented El Paso Corp during California energy crisis opposing Pierce O’Donnell, Joe Cotchett, and Thomas Girardi of Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC; Ms. Annette Carnegie, formerly member of the board of California Bar Foundation during the Hush-Hush subrosa transfer of $780,000 to CaliforniaALL; Ms. Diane Pritchard who practiced extensively before the CPUC while at MoFo. (image: courtesy photo)

In the meantime, with a green light to proceed with the plan and with the credibility of state agencies behind her, Ruthe Ashley marched on. Ashley, however, wanted to maintain a low profile AND make it appear that her subsequent hiring was purely coincidental. As such, she delegated the task of forming the entity to be known as CaliforniaALL to Sarah Redfield and Victor Miramontes.

Miramontes, a resident of San Antonio, Texas is associated with CityView, a Los Angeles-based entity controlled by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros

Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of the Board, and Sarah E. Redfield served as CaliforniaAll’s interim-executive-director for a period of 6 months. See below:

Sarah Redfield, one of the three lawyers who met at the San Francisco restaurant and who acted as CaliforniaALL’s Interim Executive Director was paid $157,763 while misclassified as an “independent contractor” in tax-returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

Thus, it was now time for Ruthe Ashley to make her appearance. She did so in June of 2008. CaliforniaALL issued multiple press releases announcing that Ruthe Ashley would serve as CaliforniaALL’s CEO.

Incidentally, Ashley and her attorneys represented to the IRS in returns bearing her signature that she was hired after a “nationwide search”, see below:

CaliforniaALL’s was housed at: 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2400 Sacramento, California 95814. This adress is actually the adress of the law-offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento. In its publication, CaliforniaALL thanked DLA Piper for offering pro-bono space in the Sacramento office. Yet, in CaliforniaALL’s tax-return signed by Ruthe Ashley, an expense in the amount of $16,457 for “occupancy” is listed. (See two images below)

In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected close to $2 million from utility companies (AT&T, PG&E, Verizon, Sempra), including a sub-rosa Hush-Hush contribution of $769,247.00 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation).

Once Ashley assumed the position, the Foundation of the State Bar of California (which is under the complete control of the State Bar of California Board of Governors) made a quiet transfer of approximately $780,000 from Cal Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL.

At the time of the transfer, the individuals controlling the Foundation were Holly Fujie, Girardi & Keese’s Howard Miller, Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, Annette Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster (the one and the same Morrison & Foerster which served as legal counsel to CaliforniaALL through Eric Tate Susan Mac Cormac) , and a few others.

CaliforniaALL never acknowledged receipt of the approximate $780,000 from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however, recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its annual report.

Below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL.

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

As the purpose of CaliforniaALL was to transfer those funds forward, it did so by awarding approximately $300,000 in grants to the UCI Foundation, where State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn (future owner of Voice of OC) serves as trustee and chair of the Audit Committee.

Voice of OC original members of the Board of Directors(L-R) UCI Law Professor Henry Winestein, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn, and UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky.

In September 2009, Ruthe Ashley , as though her mission had been completed, abruptly exited CaliforniaALL. In the same month and year, State Bar of California Executive Director , Mr. Joe Dunn, publicly launched the online publication “The Voice of OC” with the help of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

Also on September of 2009, CaliforniaALL saw fit to honor State Bar of California Board of Governors member Shrimpscam Gwen Moore — an appointee of Karen Bass and a confederate of fellow BOG member Jeannine English from the Little Hoover Commission:

Shockingly, and to add insult to injury, Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California would later claim

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR)

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

UCI Foundation allegedly used the money it obtained from CaliforniaALL to launch a “Saturday Law Academy. ” According to Professor Sarah Redfield’s CV, between 2008 and 2009 she “launched” CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.

Similarly, CaliforniaALL’s own publication indicates that with CaliforniaALL’s grant funds, U.C. Irvine developed and implemented the Saturday Academy of Law, and that by 2009 CaliforniaALL’s mission was visibly at work through the program. See below.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception.

Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years, and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as “UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.

For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in 2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)

Sources with knowledge, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintain a red flag has been raised over West due to the overall circumstances surrounding sham non-profit entity CaliforniaALL; Voice of OC; Morrison & Foerster (“MoFo”); MoFo’s James Brosnahan of Voice of OC ; MoFo’s Susan Mac Cormac ; California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) ; State Bar of California executive-director Joe Dunn and Martha Escutia of Voice of OC ; Kamala Harris and mentor — John Keker of Keker & Van Nest; Willie Brown’s protégés — State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of Shrimpscam and CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon.

According to the sources, while there is not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, his prior work with Brosnahan as well as the eerie coincidence that those who were involved with CaliforniaALL and Voice of OC were also in support of his conformation in 2009, requires further understanding of event, if only to examine potential conflict of interests should the DOJ ever investigate Voice of OC and/or CaliforniaALL — both entities with very close ties to Morrison & Foerster, and especially partner James Brosnahan.

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

Ms Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California

In reply to a complaint concerning, among others, unsettling financial transaction involving the California Bar Foundation and CaliforniaALL, Sperber wrote:

“No Bar or Foundation funds were used for CAAL creation (AKA CaliforniaALL – by TLR). The State Bar had no involvment with CAAL once it was incoparated and operating.”

“The State Bar Foundation served as CAAL’s escrow holder only to hold fundraising funds before its formal incoparation. Once CAAL was formed as non-profit entity, the funds were paid over to it.”

“Several of the informational items that you list are not factually accurate: to wit, that 1 – CaliforniaALL and the State Bar are bussiness partners. 2- a sub-rosa transfer of funds from the State Bar to CaliforniaALL took place.”

Below, an image which reflects part of the communication, for a complete copy, please see HERE.

Contrary to Ms. Sperber’s position, California Bar Foundation (which is owned and controlled by the State Bar of California) acknowledged in its annual report a transfer of $769,247 to CaliforniaALL, see below:

Similarly , below is an image which reflects State Bar of California Foundation (DBA California Bar Foundation) IRS Tax-Return showing a transfer of $774,247 to CaliforniaALL.

Likewise, and notwithstanding Sperber’s fraudulant assertion that “The State Bar had no involvement with CAAL once it was incorporated and operating.” State Bar of California own records provide the State Bar was responsible for designating, appointing, as well as re-appointing some of CaliforniaALL’s board of directors. See below an image which relfects a meeting agenda of State Bar of California Board of Governors.

Moreover, Sperber’s claim that “The State Bar had no involvement with CAAL once it was incorporated and operating” is clearly false as State Bar of California own executive-director (Ms Judy Johnson) served on CaliforniaALL’s Advisory Council alongside Judge Morrison England. See below:

Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California further wrote:

“Several of the informational items that you list are not factually accurate: to wit, that 1 – CaliforniaALL and the State Bar are bussiness partners. 2- a sub-rosa transfer of funds from the State Bar to CaliforniaALL took place.”

As we previously mentioned on TLR, other than in Foundation tax records and a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its 2008 annual report, the State Bar contribution was never mentioned again ? not by the State Bar itself, not in the Cal Bar Journal, not in the Foundation’s “newsroom,” and not by anyone or any publication of CaliforniaALL. See below, California Bar Foundation’s Newsroom, which made no mention of the “hush-hush” sub-rosa transfer to CaliforniaALL

In 2008, serving as President of the Foundation was Mario Camara. A joint letter published and signed by Camara and Hatamiya also made no mention of the hush-hush transfer. Wasn’t Mr. Camara proud of it, just like he was proud of other money which went to support “pipelines?” After all, CaliforniaALL was also intended to support “pipelines”. See below:

Below an image taken from CaliforniaALL own newsletter which alludes to the fact that the State Bar of California is a “Founding Partner” of CaliforniaALL. As such, the denial by Jill Sperber that CaliforniaALL and the State Bar of California were not partner of each other is false.

Stingy with credit and despite the transfer of close to $780,000 from the California Bar Foundation to CaliforniaALL, only utility companies are listed as “Founding Funders.” See below:

For a complete set of the above described sources, please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/79qba29

Motives behind above fraudulant claims by Jill Sperber, please see @

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/11/23/voice-of-oc-orange-county-s-nonprof…

AND @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/03/18/antics-by-state-bar-of-california-c…

Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!

Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17.
Scottish author & novelist (1771 – 1832)

*THE LESLIE BRODIE REPORT STRONGLY URGES THE READERS TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AND NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSION REGARDING MISCONDUCT BY ANYONE — it should be noted that TLR possesses not even a scintilla of evidence that demonstrating that Mr. Tony West somehow pocketed any money unlawfully or engaged in any other unlawful activities, other than the convenient circumstances described below involving Morrison & Foerster, James Brosnahan, Susan Mac Cormac, State Bar of California Executive Director — Joe Dunn of Voice of OC, Howard Miller and Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, and the California Bar Foundation which made a hush-hush sub-rosa transfer of $780,000.00 to sham entity CaliforniaALL.

As mentioned previously,  YR suspects money was misappropriated and/or laundered  through the California Bar Foundation by James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster (who represented El Paso Energy) and others to assist State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn to launch his publication — Voice of OC .   See more HERE and HERE and HERE .

A complete list of letters received in support of  the nomination of Mr. Tony West of Morrison & Foerster to the position of Assistant Attorney General of the United States of America

*Commentary by TLR in parenthesis

• March 17, 2009 – South Asian Bar Association (Entity headed by MoFo’s Raj Chatterjee — who along with Brosnahan and West represented the American Taliban. See HERE)
  
  
• March 10, 2009 – Anne Eshoo, U.S. Congresswoman, California
• 
  
• March 9, 2009 – Timothy Alan Simon, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission, State of California (Part of CaliforniaALL’s Advisory Council along with Tony West’s sister-in-law, Kamala Harris. See HERE )
• 
  
• March 9, 2009 – Zoe Lofgren, U.S. Congresswoman, California
• March 9, 2009 – Bill Lann Lee, Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, P.C., former Assistant Attorney General
• March 9, 2009 – Jamie S. Gorelick, WilmerHale, former Deputy Attorney General

From left, Gwen Moore of GeM Communication (who, according to confidential sources, was known in Sacramento as a “Shakedown Artist”), Howard Rice’s Douglas Winthrop, and CCPF’s Judy Johnson.

• March 9, 2009 – Karen Bass, Speaker of the Assembly, State of California (Nominated Shrimpscam/ Little Hoover Commission Gwen Moore as member of State Bar of California Board of Governors)

   

• March 9, 2009 – Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Northern California Chapter
• March 9, 2009 – Phil Angelides, former State Treasurer, California
• March 8, 2009 – Drew S. Days III, Alfred M. Rankin Professor of Law, Yale Law School; former Assistant Attorney General,
  Civil Rights Division; former U.S. Solicitor General
• March 7, 2009 - Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, California
• March 7, 2009 – George M. Sundheim
• March 7, 2009 – Crime Victims United of California Chapter
• March 6, 2009 – National Black Police Association, Inc.

   

• March 6, 2009 – Norman Mineta, Vice Chairman, Hill & Knowlton; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
• March 6, 2009 – Philip B. Heymann, James Barr Ames Professor of Law, Director of Center for International Criminal Justice, Harvard Law School; former Deputy Attorney General
• March 6, 2009 – Equal Justice Society
• March 6, 2009 – Michael Dukakis, UCLA Department of Public Policy, former Governor, State of Massachusetts
• March 6, 2009 – Charles Houston Bar Association
• March 6, 2009 – Sandre R. Swanson, Assemblymember, State of California
• March 5, 2009 – Nell Jessup Newton, Chancellor and Dean, University of California Hastings College of Law
• March 5, 2009 – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
• March 5, 2009 – National Bar Association
• March 5, 2009 – Tom McEnery, former Mayor, San Jose, California
• 
  
• March 5, 2009 – Bill Lockyer, Treasurer, State of California; former Attorney General, State of California (A confederate of Thomas Girardi who may be involved in Indian Gambling via Howard Dickstein — spouse of State Bar Board of Governor member Jeannine English — Gwen Moore’s confederate at Little Hoover Commission)
• 
  
• March 5, 2009 – John Keker, Keker & Van Nest LLP ( Mr. Jon Streeter of Keker & Van Nest presently serves as the President of the  State Bar of California)

   

• March 5, 2009 – California Police Chiefs Association
• 
  
• 
  
• March 5, 2009 – Willie L. Brown, Jr., former Mayor, San Francisco, California (Mentor to both Gwen Moore and Timothy Alan Simon, and former paramour of Tony West’s sister-in-law — Ms. Kamala Harris)

• March 5, 2009 – Edmund G. Brown Jr., Attorney General, State of California  (Cousin of Ex CPUC Commissioner Geoofrey Brown who served as California Bar Foundation BOD member during the HUSH-HUSH Sub-Rosa transfer of 780,000 to CaliforniaALL) 

   

• March 5, 2009 – Barbara Allen Babcock, Judge John Crown Professor of Law, Emerita, Stanford Law School; former Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division (Sister of State Bar of California Chief General Counsel Starr Babcock who has some explaining to do. See HERE)

• March 5, 2009 – Christopher Arriola
• March 4, 2009 – Louise Renne, Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai LLP
• March 4, 2009 – Chuck Reed, Mayor, City of San Jose, California
• March 4, 2009 – Major Cities Chiefs Association
• March 3, 2009 – Seth P. Waxman, WilmerHale, former Solicitor General
• March 3, 2009 – John Russo, City Attorney, City of Oakland
• March 3, 2009 – Janet Reno, former Attorney General
• March 3, 2009 – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• March 3, 2009 – Shirley Hufstedler, Morrison & Foerster LLP; former Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; former U.S. Secretary of Education
• March 3, 2009 – James Brosnahan, Morrison Foerster  (Presumed mastermind behind CaliforniaALL)

   

• March 1, 2009 – David N. Kelley, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP; former U.S. Attorney
• February 26, 2009 – Raymond C. Marshall, Bingham McCutchen
• February 26, 2009 – Congressional Black Caucus
• February 25, 2009 – Beth Brinkman, Morrison Foerster, former Assistant to the Solicitor General
• February 24, 2009 – David Bayless, Convington & Burling LLP, former Securities and Exchange Commission Enforcement Chief
• February 23, 2009 – The Honorable Edward A. Infante, United States Magistrate, Ret.
• February 19, 2009 – Randy I. Bellows, Circuit Court Judge, Fairfax County, Virginia; former Assistant U.S. Attorney
• 
  
• February 18, 2009 – Keith Wetmore, Chair, Morrison & Foerster LLP
• February 18, 2009 – Bar Association of San Francisco

Source:

http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/111thCongressExecutiveNominations/AssistantAttorneyGeneralCivil-TonyWest.cfm

“All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.”

I am a God-loving, Conservative American Patriot that is extremely concerned about the direction this country is moving in. Since Obama took office on January 20, 2009, the America we all once knew has slowly fallen apart.

I am tired of Obama, his administration and the liberal Democrats in Washington not listening to US.  I refuse to sit by and watch our God-given American rights being stripped away from it’s citizens.

I am tired of the media, members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden calling the TEA Party “terrorists”, “racists” or “violent extremists”.  They are the farthest thing from what the TEA Party is and what WE stand for.  Last time I checked the legal term used for these type of false accusations is called LIBEL.  According to LegalDefinition libel is:

An untruthful statement about a person, published in writing or through broadcast media, that injures the person’s reputation or standing in the community.

Because libel is a tort (a civil wrong), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement.

Libel is a form of defamation , as is slander (an untruthful statement that is spoken, but not published in writing or broadcast through the media).

I am tired of Obama and many other people in the U.S. government trying to appease Muslims.  The United States of America was founded upon the principles of Christianity… nothing else.

I am tired of our military veterans not getting the recognition they deserve.  They never hesitated putting their lives on the line when WE needed them… so why would WE ever hesitate helping them when they need US.

I am tired of so many people in America belonging to the “entitlement” class.  The only thing that each U.S. citizen is “entitled” to is the right to be FREE.  What you do with that freedom is up to you and no one else.  Just because you did not work as hard as I did to try and make something of yourself… does not mean that I should have to pay for you to live the easy life.

“]

My grandfather was a retired Lt. Colonel in the United States Marine Corps.  He served in Vietnam and was a helicopter pilot.  Sadly, he passed away on January 11, 2000 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  There is a book written by Marion F. Sturkey called “Bonnie Sue:  A Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron in Vietnam”.  The book includes a couple of stories about my grandfather during his time in Vietnam.  It is definitely a must read book.  (In my humble opinion)

My grandmother, a military wife, has always been the rock that kept our family together.  Of all the people I have known in my life she is the one that inspires me the most.  She has shown me that the strength of a woman can carry the world.

To all of my fellow patriots…  Keep fighting the good fight, keep the faith, ‘We the People’ will prevail.

Finally, I would like to say something to all military men & women both past & present… THANK YOU FOR MY FREEDOM!!!  Words will never be enough to express my undying gratitude to each and every one of you! America is the land of the free BECAUSE of the brave!

GOD bless our troops and may GOD bless America!

Patriotically yours,

Sarah Roman

 Please visit @:

http://usamericanfreedom.com/

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Presently, Brosnahan is under extreme scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL for the alleged suspicious activities of laundering money to State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC vis-a vis the California Bar Foundation, see HERE and HERE

Below ( L-R) Mr. David Werdegar of IOA; State Bar of California BOG Member Jeannine English; Mr. Thomas Girardi of embattled Voice of OC; Executive Director of State Bar of California Joe Dunn of embattled Voice of OC;  California Supreme Court Associate Justice Hon. Kathryn Werdegar; really special prosecutor in matter of In Re Girardi and controversial judicial aspirant Prof. Rory Little; controversial gambling attorney Howard Dickstein (spouse of Jeannine English and a client of Keker & Van Nest), MoFo’s James Brosnahan of embattled Voice of OC; Keker & Van Nest partner Matthew Werdegar – son of David and Kathryn Werdegar; Keker & Van Nest partner Jan Little (spouse of Rory Little); Keker & Van Nest partner Elliot Peters — attorney for  Howard Dickstein; California Democratic Party operative and mentor to Willie Brown’s former paramour — Mr. John Keker; Keker & Van Nest partner, attorney for Howard Dickstein, controversial judicial aspirant, and President of the State Bar of California — Mr. Jon Streeter.

Binh Thai Luc, 35, entered his plea to five counts of murder, plus special circumstances of committing multiple murders, robbery, burglary and lying in wait.

During Luc’s initial court appearance last month, Judge Lucy Kelly McCabe assigned him a new, private defense attorney after ruling that the public defender’s office had a conflict of interest because it previously represented Luc’s brother in an unrelated separate case last year. The brother, Brian Luc, may be a witness in the murder case, prosecutors said.

Please see complete story @:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/man-accused-in-slayings-of-5-in-san-fr…

Please see relevant story @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/state-bar-of-california-executive-director-…

In TLR’s previously published article “”All Roads Lead to Loyola – - Just Don’t Drive a Ford Explorer” in the paragraph which reads:

“As such, to pay much deserve tribute to Mr. Girardi, in 2005 Loyola Law School honored Mr. Girardi at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Present were Senator Jospeh Dunn, Justice Carlos Moreno, and many other dignitaries from legal community”

We were remiss in failing to mention that in addition to Mr. Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, Mr. James J. Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster was also a recipient of the much coveted  “Champion of Justice” award from the Civil Justice Program at the Loyola Law School.

Similarly, we were also remiss in failing to mention that Mr. Joseph Cotchett of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy was present to honor Mr. Brosnahan.

See Original entry @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/01/25/all-roads-lead-to-loyola-just-don-t…

See relevant information @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/gjerde-v-state-bar

Please observe that, rather than contacting Judge Corley directly, the query is being delivered publicly, here and now.

Any information, may be sent to lesliebrodie@gmx.com

UC Hastings Civil Procedure Law Professor — Kerr & Wagstaffe’s James Wagstaffe — Hereby Asked to Opine on  Matter of Sean Patrick Gjerde v. State Bar of California Assigned to Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley? Should Only Corley Be Disqualified? Or, the Entire Bench?

Please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/gjerde-v-state-bar