According to information readily available on http://judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com , Thomas Girardi of Los Angeles-based Girardi & Keese “is facing a jury trial of some 5-7 days before a Los Angeles jury– re conversion and misappropriation of attorney’s fees (compensatory and punitives) ” in the matter of Shalant vs. Girardi
Separately, in connection with the suit against Bet Tzedek, Ronald George, and Eric George, data provides that “Eric George’s deposition with a substantial document request is set for end of June, 2012, and Moreno’s with a substantial document request for mid-July, 2012.”
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…
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, Rory Little (Professor, Hastings College of Law, Special Prosecutor in the matter of In Re Girardi, and spouse of Keker & Van Nest’s Jan Little) is hereby asked to reply/comment on recent allegation presented to a federal court that Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi improperly attempted to influence the prosecutor /outcome of proceedings by abusing his considerable political influence to secure a judicial nomination to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals?
See paragraph 18, below:
Rory Little, Ninth Circuit judicial aspirant and professor of law at U.C. Hastings. Professor Little was appointed special prosecutor in the matter of In Re Girardi by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski. Prior to entering academia, Professor Little served as a federal prosecutor for the Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force, prosecuting cases of labor racketeering, money-laundering, narcotics and other organized criminal activity. (image:courtesy photo)
Judge William Fletcher, a member of the Ninth Circuit panel that adjudicated the matter of In re Girardi, 08-80090, rejected the lenient recommendations of Rory Little. He stated: “with any competent lawyer if you’re omitting part of a document, that is not accidental. That is intentional.” The court adjudicated that the grave misconduct by Walter Lack and Thomas Girardi included “the persistent use of known falsehoods,” and that the “false representations” were made “knowingly, intentionally, and recklessly” during years of litigation.
Please observe that, rather than contacting Rory Little (Professor, Hastings College of Law, Special Prosecutor in the matter of In Re Girardi, and spouse of Keker & Van Nest’s Jan Little) directly, the query is being delivered publicly, here and now.
Any comments, opinion or observation can be sent to lesliebrodie@gmx.com
Please see also developing story @:
http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/03/31/jon-streeter-of-keker-van-nest-rory…
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, PG&E’s Attorneys’ Douglas Winthrop, Jerome Falk, Ethan Schulman, James Lopes, Amy Margolin of Howard Rice and Joshua Bar-Lev, Frank Lindh are hereby asked to disclose whether PG&E had entered into a separate and secret settlement which was mediated by JAMS.
Said confidential settlement allegedly calls for $56 Million to be transferred to Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese stemming from alleged “invasion of privacy” by PG & E against Thomas Girardi who was representing the plaintiffs in a class action matter known as Hinkley/Erin Brockovich matter?
Please observe that, rather than contacting PG&E’s Attorneys’ Douglas Winthrop, Jerome Falk, Ethan Schulman, James Lopes, Amy Margolin of Howard Rice and Joshua Bar-Lev, Frank Lindh directly, the query is being delivered publicly, here and now.
Any comments, opinion or observation can be sent to lesliebrodie@gmx.com
PG&E Former In-House Counsels Joshua Bar-Lev and CPUC’s Frank Lindh (Father of Al Quaeda’s John Walker Lindh) Hereby Asked to Opine on Howard Rice Concurrent Representation of Girardi & Keese and PG&E While Hinkley/Erin Brockovich Matter Still Pending.
Howard Rice represantation of Girardi & Keese and Engstrom Liposcomb & Lack in the matter of Copple v. Astrella, please see @:
http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=3&xmldoc=20061271442FSupp2d829_…
Howard Rice representation of PG&E in 2006, please see profile of former Howard Rice partner Ethan Schulman which states:
” Lynch v. California Public Utilities Commission, 311 B.R. 978 (N.D. Cal. 2004), dismissed as moot (2006, 9th Cir.). Successfully represented Pacific Gas and Electric Company on appeal by former members of California Public Utilities Commission from Bankruptcy Court’s order confirming PG&E’s plan of reorganization.” @:
http://www.calappellate.org/Member-Directory?action=view_member&memberID=141
Erin Brockovich matter — Girardi & Keese and Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack represent plaintiff against PG & E in 2006, please see @:
http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/2006-pg-e-agrees-to-295-million-settlement-in
Pacific Gas and Electric on Friday agreed to pay $295 million to settle claims by more than 1,000 residents in several Mojave Desert towns who said they were harmed by groundwater contamination, a case made famous by the film “Erin Brockovich.”
As part of the settlement, the utility apologized to affected residents in the towns where leaks from gas compressor plants in the 1950s through the 1970s polluted the groundwater basin with chromium.
“Clearly, this situation should never have happened, and we are sorry that it did. It is not the way we do business, and we believe it would not happen in our company today,” the utility said.
The apology marked a bittersweet victory in Hinkley, Calif., where residents have blamed cancer deaths and birth defects on the polluted water.
“Well, I think it’s great because a lot of [residents] do have health problems,” said Brenda McIlvain, a bar owner whose ex-husband will benefit from the settlement. “I think it’s great that the ones that signed up on the [lawsuit] will get a little bit of money to help them.”
The settlement comes before the trial was supposed to begin and ends the majority of the claims from Hinkley and other towns, including Kettleman Hills, that said their groundwater was contaminated.
“This closes the books on almost all the claims,” said Jon Tremayne, a spokesman for PG&E. “The settlement provides closure, and it allows us to focus on the future. We’re hopeful it will provide closure for the plaintiffs and allow them to move forward.”
The case dated to 1951, when spent chromium, added to cooling water to reduce corrosion, leaked from unlined retention ponds and seeped into the groundwater under Hinkley, making its way into community wells. The plaintiffs’ attorneys claimed that some of the town’s water supply was tainted with 140 times the amount of chromium allowed under government standards. They suggested that most of the cancers were caused when children played in the water and inhaled particles.
In July 1996, PG&E agreed to pay $333 million to about 650 people who blamed cancer and other diseases on polluted water leaking from a gas pumping station.
Please continue @:
The crippled law firm Dewey & Leboeuf LLP filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday night and will seek approval to liquidate its business after failing to find a merger partner, marking the biggest collapse of a law firm in U.S. history. Once one of the largest law firms in the U.S., Dewey has been hit by the loss of the vast majority of its roughly 300 partners to other firms amid concerns about compensation and a heavy debt load. Please continue @: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/29/us-deweyandlebouef-bankruptcy-idUSB…
The fundamental problem is that there is this misguided belief that the judicial council and the AOC are honest, ethical and beyond reproach. There is this misguided belief that people who meet only about six times a year can manage a multi-billion dollar budget or oversee an office like the AOC that is spending most of that multi-bilion dollar budget.
One only needs to look at the pages here and the history of previous votes to see that the judicial council and the AOC are partners engaged in unprecedented self-dealing and that keeping trial court doors open isn’t even on their radar nor does it hold any importance. The Judicial Council as presently formed consists of a large majority of yes men and women and insiders who have something to gain or lose by pulling the party line and speaking with one voice. God forbid that we have any democratic dissension as representative government gets messy and sends out confusing messages. Instead, the Judicial Branch is governed by appointees that are all appointed based on their ability to go along and get along.
Please continue @:
http://judicialcouncilwatcher.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/youre-suggesting-that-…
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. “
Morrison & Foerster is advising Boyd on the transaction with a team that includes corporate partner Brandon Parris, financial transactions partner Kathryn Johnstone, tax partners Stephen Feldman and Remmelt Reigersman, executive compensation partner Michael Frank, employment partner Eric Akira Tate, real estate partner Peter Aitelli, technology transactions partner Paul Jahn and antitrust partner Jeff Jaeckel. The firm previously represented the company on its unsuccessful bid for assets owned by the bankrupt Las Vegas–based Station Casinos.
Brian Larson serves as general counsel for Boyd, which also owns half of the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. The company’s executive chairman, William Boyd, is a lawyer who cofounded the company in 1974 with his father. Thomas Girardi, a founding partner of Los Angeles–based Girardi & Keese, serves on the Boyd board.Please continue @:
http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=1202554367344
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.Jennifer from Carpinteria, California to The Leslie Brodie Report: Why are you such a hater of Pierce O’Donnell???? He is a loving father and huge benefactor to his communit.
TLR Note / Reply :
As was stated @ http://tinyurl.com/cs4fu76 several days ago “given O’Donnell’s presumed inability to reply or comment on our reports during his incarceration, coverage of topics involving O’Donnell are suspended and will resume once he is no longer in custody.”
The above notwithstanding, TLR stated several months ago “Despite his faults, O’Donnell is truly a remarkable and decent person. Hopefully, the Girardi Syndicate will ensure O’Donnell and his family are well cared for during his incarceration.” See @ http://tinyurl.com/dxtlyhl
Pierce O’Donnell, Tom Girardi, Walter Lack, James Brosnahan, Tony West, and Joe Cotchett Hereby Asked to Disclose”Long Beach – CPUC Connection” in Matter of Continental Forge v. Sempra Energy
Please see related story @:
http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/04/11/cpuc-vs-el-paso-corp-federal-energy…
(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
See original story @:
Addendum #1:
Admit Skadden Arps represents Toyota in the matter of In Re Toyota Unintended Acceleratio.
Admit Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese represents the plaintiffs in the matter of In Re Toyota Unintended Acceleration.
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom’s Gary MacDonald, Thomas Nolan, and Raoul Kennedy Hereby Asked to Admit or Deny Existence of Unlawful Collision with Girardi & Keese’s Thomas Girardi to Fix Cases:
Admit Skadden Arps defended the matter of Winnie the Pooh. Admit Skadden Arps defended the matter of Fogel vs. Farmers Group. Admit Skadden Arps defended the matter of In re TransPacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litigation. Admit Skadden Arps defended MGA Entertainment (Bratz Dolls) in litigation against Mattel.ADMIT SKADDEN ARPS DEFENDED THOMAS GIRARDI OF GIRARDI & KEESE IN THE NINTH CIRCUIT DISPLINARY MATTER OF IN RE GIRARDI. ADMIT THOMAS GIRARDI OF GIRARDI & KEESE REPRESENTED THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE MATTERS OF:
Addendum #2 to TransPacific Antitrust Litigation (TLR Note: Notice Murray & Howard — In Collision with and Part of CCPF’s Judy Johnson – Executive Director of State Bar of California — Motives Behind Nancy Fineman 1985.3 Conspiracy with Alec Chang Re Frivolous Complaint to Yolo DA Re False & Malicious Ethics Complaints)
Please see @:
http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/pierce-odonnell-in-re-transpacific-pass
Addendum to TransPacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litigation (TLR Note:1 Notice Regulars – Skadden, Girardi, O’Donnell 2- Did O’Donnell Inform Courts of 120 Days Suspension 2/11-6/11? 3 – Good Use of Alec Chang, Howard Miller, Nancy Fineman)
Please see @:
http://www.skadden.com/index.cfm?contentID=45&bioID=1127
AND @:
http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/pierce-odonnell-in-re-transpacific-passenger
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.
A lengthy and expensive accounting in the battle over royalties on Winnie The Pooh revenues may be tainted, according to sources familiar with the case and court records.
In one development, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ernest Hiroshige called famed attorney Daniel J. Petrocelli into his chambers after a lengthy accounting hearing last summer and told the lawyer he did not want the Gursey, Schneider & Co. forensic accounting firm to be used in future litigation before him.
The firm was the court-appointed forensic accountant in a dispute over hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties that has been proceeding under seal for more than a decade. Disney has been fined $90,0000 and sanctioned by Judge Hiroshige for destroying at least 40 volumes of records that were sought by the plaintiffs.
In an another development, the American Reporter has learned that Arthur Andersen senior partner Christopher Paskach is named as the author of a memo on the Disney royalty audit in papers filed by Disney with the court. Paskach did not return numerous calls for comment. Andersen is currently charged with approving the destruction of key documents that might have explained the sudden collapse of the $83 billion Enron energy trading firm last year.
The controversial, long-running, long-secret case — the oldest active case in the Los Angeles County court dockets — pits the Walt Disney Co. against Stephen Slesinger, Inc., a small Tampa, Fla., firm that granted commercial rights to the beloved and best-selling Winnie The Pooh characters to Disney in 1961.
In a widely-reported talk to investors that signaled a sea change for the accounting industry, Disney chairman Michael Eisner announced about a month ago that outside auditors would no longer be used as consultants on technology and other issues. But while Eisner referred to other accounting relationships, he made no mention of Arthur Andersen & Co.’s apparent role in more than a dozen hearings before Judge Hiroshige, after which Disney admitted destroying documents it had been ordered to preserve.
A decision is reportedly near in the audit facet of the case, involving some $35 million in Pooh merchandise that was sold in Disney theme parks, Disney stores and elsewhere for which the right to royalties was not in dispute. A trial on remaining issues — mostly on royalties for rights that the plaintiffs claim to own and Disney says it owns — is likely to involve hundreds of millions of dollars, and could result in Disney’s loss of the lucrative rights. The trial is expected to begin later this year.
Because it it admitted to destroying documents after a court order to preserve them, Disney will be prohibited from arguing to a jury that its executives did not promise to pay royalties on videocassettes and computer software to the Slesinger firm. Disney claims in court papers that videocassettes are motion pictures, for which it was not required to pay the Slesingers.
There may have been at least the appearance of a conflict of interest in the accounting reference, as that part of the case is called, although it is not clear whether that was the cause of Judge Hiroshige’s alleged ire.
The issue is extremely sensitive, and sources on both sides of the matter reacted with anger when apprised of this story. Confronted with evidence that Arthur Andersen & Co. was involved in the audit, Petrocelli initially said that story was “false,” and confronted with this story, a Slesinger family spokesperson angrily demanded its retraction. However, the issue has been simmering beneath the surface of the case in closed hearings for some time.
John Costello, the Pooh court-appointed accounting referee who was formerly at Ernst & Young, a rival accounting firm, allegedly introduced Paul Donovan — Disney’s attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, which represented the studio in the matter for almost 10 years — to the Gursey, Schneider accountants who handled Donovan’s divorce, sources familiar with the matter say.
They also say the “irrepressible” Donovan was vigorous in supporting the Gursey, Schenider appointment by Judge Hiroshige. The discovery referee in the case, former California Supreme Court Associate Justice David Eagleson, suggested in court documents that it could cost the parties some $500,000, most of it payable to Gursey, Schneider. An earlier accounting in the case cost just $5,100, Disney attorney Janet Dhillon said in court papers.
As head of West Coast litigation for Skadden, Arps, the lawyer would likely prove a lucrative client to an accounting firm charged with determining the division of community property under California’s restrictive laws. There is frequently a finder’s fee for such introductions, accounting professionals say, although no record of such a payment has surfaced in the Donovan divorce. That fee can range from as little as one percent in some matters to half of the firm’s revenues from a case in others.
Now, Disney is asking the court to keep records of Donovan’s divorce sealed, according to papers filed as part of the studio’s effort to keep portions of the case under seal after March 1. It is unclear from the heavily redacted record made available to the press why that unusual step was taken. Donovan has not responded to numerous requests for comment.
In a reply brief filed Feb. 21, Disney attorney Carla Christofferson writes, “Disney also seeks to keep sealed private financial information related to the divorce proceedings of former counsel — a proceeding irrelevant and unrelated to this case. … [D]isclosure of this information to the public cannot be said to further the policy considerations underlying the public’s right of access.”
Sources say Costello “brought the Pooh case with him” when he left Ernst & Young, the original forensic accountants, and came to Gursey, Schneider. Disney attorneys led by Donovan urged Hiroshige to appoint Gursey, Schneider, and Costello as the new accounting referee in the case, and the judge did so. But it is unknown whether Judge Hiroshige’s alleged comments to Petrocelli about Gursey, Schneider were based on any perceived conflict of interest.
Costello, apparently relaying Disney’s stance on the issue, would not permit a Slesinger accountant to sit in on the special accounting audit, according to testimony last summer. The Florida firm made a major issue of its exclusion when Judge Hiroshige held a four-day hearing to resolve royalty accounting issues on undisputed product categories last August. Six months later, he still has not ruled on that matter.
At the end of the accounting hearing, Gursey, Schneider accountants found few discrepancies in Disney’s royalty payments to Slesinger. Both parties sought to have the accounting set aside and to conduct a new one.
That was attributed by the plaintiffs to the destruction of documents in the case. Donovan and Skadden, Arps were forced to drop the studio as a client when Slesinger’s attorneys moved to call them as witnesses in the document drestruction.
Disney lawyers said at a 2000 hearing on the destruction that Donovan “is irrepressible, maybe,” but would never deliberately order the destruction of documents sought by opponents in any litigation.
Meanwhile, the California Supreme Court is expected to rule on Disney’s appeal of the sanctions on Feb. 28, according to officials. California’s Second Appellate District rejected the studio’s petition for a writ to suspend the sanctions in December. Its jurisdiction in the matter ends on March 7.
Source:
http://www.monitor.net/monitor/0203a/pooh4.html
The Leslie Brodie Report (TLR) is carefully following a major developing story out of California relating to Eric George of Los Angeles-based Browne George Ross.
According to knowledgeable sources, Eric George – son of former California Chief Justice Ronald George – has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit. As was previously addressed, the unsettling beneficial symbiotic relationship between Ronald George and Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese vis-a-vis Eric George, coupled with Eric George’s partial ownership of a bank (1st Century Bank) owned by former president of the State Bar of California Alan Rothenberg, are sources of grave concern. TLR is gathering and analyzing data concerning the suit, and will post further updates as they become available.
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 @:
Four Loyola Law School alumni are poised to play pivotal roles in the impending litigation involving economic-loss, personal-injury and wrongful-death claims from reported instances of unintended acceleration in certain Toyota cars. On the defense side, Toyota recently hired Tom Nolan ’75 to serve as lead counsel in economic-loss cases. Arguing on behalf of the consumers will be three alumni: Tom Girardi ’64, Tony Rackauckas ’71 and Mark P. Robinson, Jr. ’71. Nolan, of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, will help navigate the economic-loss cases in federal and state court. He represented MGA Entertainment in its high-profile litigation with Mattel over copyright infringement in the Bratz line of dolls. MGA was ultimately awarded $309 million in damages and fees. Nolan’s economic-loss case in front of Los Angele County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mohr is set to begin in September 2012. Loyola’s Civil Justice Program honored Nolan as a Champion of Justice in 2007.
See source @:
http://llsblog.lls.edu/students/guest/2012/01/four-loyola-alumni-leading-liti…
Wayne Gretsky, please see @:
77 connections
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Legal Services industry
May 2009 – Present (3 years)
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Legal Services industry
August 2002 – Present (9 years 9 months)
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Legal Services industry
August 2002 – May 2009 (6 years 10 months)
Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Law Practice industry
October 1996 – July 2002 (5 years 10 months)
77 connections
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Legal Services industry
May 2009 – Present (3 years)
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Legal Services industry
August 2002 – Present (9 years 9 months)
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Legal Services industry
August 2002 – May 2009 (6 years 10 months)
Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Law Practice industry
October 1996 – July 2002 (5 years 10 months)
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.Please see relevant story @:
http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/2004-pfizers-rezulin-suit-prosecuted-by-thoma
After just two days of deliberations, a Los Angeles jury unanimously rejected claims Thursday that the diabetes drug Rezulin — taken off the market in March 2000 because of safety concerns — contributed to the deaths or illness of three people.
In the Los Angeles case, the jury found that the plaintiffs’ attorney, Thomas Girardi, proved that Rezulin can cause liver injury, but failed to “prove that Rezulin was a substantial factor in” the deaths of Lupe Contreras and Manuel Cervantes, or the illness of Leonard Clinkenbeard.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Carl J. West presided over the seven-week trial. Attorney Pierce O’Donnell, who defended the drug company, could not be reached for comment.
Please see @:
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
County of San Diego
DATE: August 3, 2006
DEPT. 71
REPORTER A:
CSR#
PRESENT HON. Ronald S. Prager
REPORTER B:
CSR#
JUDGE
CLERK: K. Sandoval
BAILIFF:
REPORTER’S ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 120128
SAN DIEGO, CA 92112-4104
CLARIFICATION NUNC PRO TUNC ORDER-KELLY
IN RE: JCCP 4221/4224/4226&4428 – Natural Gas Anti-Trust Cases (Pipeline)
The attached Court’s ruling applies to all cases listed as follows:
4221-00001 PHILLIP vs EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY
4221-00002 PHILLIP vs EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY
4221-00003 CONTINENTAL FORGE COMPANY vs SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
4221-00004 BERG vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
4221-00005 THE CITY OF LONG BEACH vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GAS COMPANY
4221-00006 THE CITY OF LOS vs SOUTHERN CALIFOR
4221-00005 SWEETIE’S A CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP vs EL PASO
CORPORATION
4221-00006 THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GAS COMPANY
4221-00007 SWEETIE’S A CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP vs EL PASO
CORPORATION
4221-00008 CALIFORNIA DAIRIES INC vs EL PASO CORPORATION
4221-00009 DRY CREEK CORPORATION (JCCP 4228) vs EL PASO
NATURAL GAS COMPANY
4221-00010 HACKETT vs EL PASO CORP
4221-00011 THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES vs SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
4221-00012 THE CITY OF VERNON vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS
COMPANY
1
JCCP 4221 NATURAL GAS-PIPELINE AUGUST 3, 2006
4221-00013 WORLD OIL CORP vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS
COMPANY
4221-00014 CITY OF UPLAND vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS
COMPANY
4221-00015 THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO vs SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
4221-00016 EDGINGTON OIL COMPANY vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GAS COMPANY
4221-00017 THE CITY OF CULVER CITY vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GAS COMPANY
4221-00018 THE CITY OF BURBANK vs SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS
COMPANY
4221-00019 THUMS LONG BEACH COMPANY vs SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY
TENTATIVE RULING
JCCP #4221, 4224, 4226 and 4228
The motion for nunc pro tunc order for clarification of pro
hac vice admission of James Tynan Kelly (“Kelly”) as class
counsel is denied. Preliminarily, the court notes Kelly has
not submitted any new evidence to support why this court
should enter the revised order, but relies on his declaration
in support of attorney’s fees. Objector Candy Tomkinson
claims that Kelly failed to comply with Code of Civil
Procedure section 1008. Prior to the entry of judgment, the
court could have exercised its inherent power to set this
hearing on its own motion to revise and nunc pro tunc the
October 3, 2002 order granting Kelly’s pro hac vice
application based upon Le Francois v. Goel (2005) 35 Cal.4th
1094, 1108.
However, the court has lost jurisdiction to revise or modify
the prior order because judgment was been entered and this is
not simply a correction of a clerical error. The reservation
of jurisdiction under the settlement terms only included
provisions under the settlement agreement, including their
administration, consummation and enforcement. (Judgment, ¶21.)
The application for pro hac vice did not request that the
JCCP 4221 NATURAL GAS-PIPELINE AUGUST 3, 2006
2
order expand the time to 2000, when Kelly began to work on the
case. The order also does not discuss any retroactivity.
(Objector’s Ex. 1, and Ex. 2, T. 2:11-14.) Accordingly, this
is not merely a correction of a prior order and the motion is
denied.
Nonetheless, the court had previously and extensively
considered many of these same arguments raised by Objector
Candy Tomkinson in her opposition to the request for
attorney’s fees by Kelly. The court overruled Candy Tomkinson
May 23, 2006’s objections in their entirety. (Amended Ruling
After Oral Argument Pipeline Settlement, dated June 27, 2006,
pages 5 and 8.) Furthermore, the order granting Plaintiffs’
counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees has not been challenged
and is not before the court.
Any party who wishes to orally argue the motion must appear on
the date and at the time set for the hearing. Failure to
appear shall be deemed a waiver of oral argument. If neither
party appears at the scheduled hearing, this tentative ruling
shall become the final order of the court on the date set for
hearing.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
3
The tragic unraveling of Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer took a disturbing turn this week when a message from her personal email account landed in a reporter’s inbox: Her husband, California’s Treasurer Bill Lockyer, the message said, bought and gave her drugs years before she wound up in rehab.
Please continue @:
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_20382711/email-from-nadia-lockyer-ac…
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
Mr. Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice. West attended Harvard University where he served as Publisher of the Harvard Political Review, graduating with honors in 1987. He received his J.D. degree in 1992 from Stanford Law School, where he was President of the Stanford Law Review. He joined Morrison & Foerster in 2001. While at MoFo, West represented clients ranging from large corporations to “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh alongside partners James Brosnahan and Raj Chatterjee. His sister-in-law, Kamala Harris, is the California attorney general.
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.
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.
*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
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.
Source:
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 @:
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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…
TLR’s previously published article “The Chosen Dunn” which reads:
“Judicial Council
Friday August 26, 2006 8:45 a.m., San Francisco, California.
The Judicial Council of the State of California held a meeting at the Administration Office of the Courts(AOC).
A partial list of members present include Chief Justice Ronald George, Justice Marvin Baxter, Rex Heinke, and Thomas Girardi. Absent was member Joseph Dunn.
During a similar meeting held on Friday April 27, 2007; Judicial Council members Thomas Girardi and Joseph Dunn were both absent.
The Voice of OC
In September of 2009, Mr. Joseph Dunn (AKA Joe Dunn) launched “The Voice of OC” — an online publication design to investigate and report about corruption in Orange County.
Thomas Girardi as well as Joe Dunn serve as members of The Voice of OC’s Board of Directors
Executive Director, State Bar of California
According to the LegalPad, on Septermber 20, 2010 State Bar President Howard Miller of Girardi & Keese announced that the board of governors of the State Bar of California chose Joe Dunn “after a nationwide search,” and that he’ll start sometime after the State Bar annual convention in Monterey.”
We were remiss in failing to mention that in addition to Mr. Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, Mr. James J. Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster also was a member of Voice of OC’s Board of Directors.
Please see original entry @:
http://tinyurl.com/THECHOSENDUNN
As previously reported, both Mr. Girardi and Mr. Brosnahan abruptly quit their position at Voice of OC. Please see @:
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…
(L-R) Honoring Jeffrey Bleich 2007 Dinner Chairman James Brosnahan, Mark Bostick, Honoree Jeffrey Bleich (AKA Renaissance Superman), Ninth Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher
Below, California Bar Foundation IRS Form 990 :
Below, originally published on November of 2011:
As public service to the community, The Leslie Brodie Report publishes* a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) against Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency DBA Voice of OC, below:
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.
I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.
*Links and photos inserted by The Leslie Brodie Report.
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