The president’s trip to the Bay Area last week made it painfully clear that the Barack Obama re-election campaign has lost its mojo.

There was no life, no personality, no memorable line or moment and no real enthusiasm in the entire fundraising foray. In short, there was no buzz.

It was like a summer rerun of a show that wasn’t very interesting to begin with.

Worse yet, Obama sounded like he was playing catch-up to Mitt Romney. I can’t think of anything that should have him in that role, but he’s acting like the underdog.

A public utility with a power line easement is immune from the property owner’s claim for indemnity in an action by a person injured as a result of contact with the power line, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled yesterday.

The justices, reversing the Sixth District Court of Appeal, held that Pacific Gas & Electric Company cannot be held liable for implied contractual indemnity on a claim as to which it was held statutorily immune from direct liability.

Suit was filed against PG&E after 10-year-old Joshua Jackson was seriously injured using an aluminum pole to try to dislodge a kite from an electrical power line. The line traversed property owned by Eve Prince, the grandmother of a friend with whom Jackson was playing.

Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar, in a separate concurrence, said the “unwieldy doctrine of implied contractual indemnity…should be abandoned” since the need for the rule has been obviated by the development of equitable indemnity.

The case is Prince v. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, 09 S.O.S. 1666.

See source @:

http://www.metnews.com/articles/2009/prin032009.htm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in July 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Employees of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) have submitted a complaint to the Office of the Governor and the Fair Political Practices Commission, complaining of the “illegal and unethical” behavior of CPUC Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon.

The complaint attaches five news articles — my Reader columns of April 4 and April 24, Miriam Raftery’s East County Magazine article of April 8, and two news articles from the San Francisco Chronicle.

The complaint states that Simon’s longtime (10 years) fiance, Kimberly Brandon, is chair of the Museum of African Diaspora. At a San Francisco dinner, while Simon was away from the table, Brandon hit up a senior executive of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) for a $25,000 donation to the museum — and in return, she said Simon would vote in favor of SDGE’s attempt to get San Diego customers to pay the uninsured costs of the 2007 fires, for which the utility was found negligent. San Diego attorney Mike Aguirre has mentioned this incident in his fight against the utility’s blatant attempt to have ratepayers, instead of shareholders of parent Sempra Energy, pay for the utility’s negligence — both for 2007 and for future fires. Simon is in fact the commissioner in charge of that case.

The complaint states that a California state auditor is investigating Simon allegedly billing the state for expenses of trips on behalf of third parties which had already paid for his expenses.Through this maneuver, Simon has been able to pocket significant sums, says the complaint, which notes that “Simon is addicted to travel — and to being entertained — as long as someone else is paying for it.”

Those filing the complaint said they could not use their names for fear of retaliation.

Source:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2012/may/11/utilities-commi…

See related story re Lateefah Simon @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/04/07/ex-mofo-partner-tony-west-head-of-t…

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…

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.

• Public utilities commissioner Timothy Simon (left), shown here with good friend, SDGE chief executive Jessie Knight, has cozy relationships with utilities.

Selected parts:

The state’s utilities commission is a “constructive partner” of Sempra, echoes Mark Barnett of the Morningstar analysis firm. “Improved California regulation allows the company to collect best-in-class returns.”

The commissioner who is handling San Diego Gas & Electric’s attempt to stiff consumers is Timothy Alan Simon, who was appointed in early 2007 by former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for whom Simon had been an aide. He had been recommended for the commission by California political powerhouse Willie Brown. Simon had been in bankruptcy for four years before his nomination, according to a story in the Los Angeles Times. Former utilities commission president Loretta Lynch was one of several knowledgeable people questioning whether someone with obvious financial woes should be named a commissioner. State senator Christine Kehoe of San Diego challenged Simon’s knowledge of utility issues.

San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre got an anonymous tip from inside the commission that at one of the meals, Simon committed himself to permit San Diego Gas & Electric to fleece its customers for uninsured fire costs.

Please see complete article @:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2012/apr/04/citylights1-san-diego-gas-elec…

2008 – Los Angeles Times: Public Utilities Commissioner Timothy A. Simon donation request raises questions (TLR Note: 1- Simon “mentee” of Willie Brown, as is Tony West, Kamala Harris and Gwen Moore 2- CPUC-California Bar – Utilities-African American Money Connection i.e. CaliforniaALL, CCPF) — Below:

Public Utilities Commissioner Timothy A. Simon solicited donations from companies he regulates to help pay for a nonprofit conference on green energy hosted last month by one of his political patrons, documents and interviews show.

Two weeks after the conference, the three most generous corporate donors to the Willie L. Brown Jr. Institute on Politics and Public Service — each of which gave at least $50,000 — won PUC agreement to change a new energy-efficiency program as the companies had requested.

About the same time Simon was raising money from the utilities, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. were petitioning the PUC to increase bonuses in an energy-efficiency program the commission had established a few months earlier.

Simon’s appointment to the commission is largely due to Willie Brown, the former Assembly speaker and San Francisco mayor. Brown recommended him to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and is said to be rallying support for his confirmation, which the state Senate Rules Committee is scheduled to consider today.

In an e-mail sent to prospective donors, Simon described the event as “a summit like no other” and encouraged donors to contact him directly at his office or call the conference organizer, a PUC employee. “I look forward to hearing from you soon,” Simon wrote.

Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric agreed to be “platinum sponsors,” those donating $50,000 or more, according to conference materials.

Please continue @:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-puc20feb20,0,5269194.story

AND @:

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/20/local/me-puc20

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

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

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

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

Please continue @:

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

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

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

AND @:

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

Eric Holder
82nd United States Attorney General
Incumbent
Assumed office February 3, 2009
President	Barack Obama
Deputy	David Ogden James Cole
Preceded by	Michael Mukasey
Deputy Attorney General of the United States
In office June 13, 1997 – January 20, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Jamie Gorelick
Succeeded by	Larry Thompson
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
In office October 1993 – June 13, 1997
Nominated by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	J. Ramsey Johnson[1]
Associate Judge on Superior Court of the District of Columbia
In office October 1988 – October 1993
Nominated by	Ronald Reagan
Personal details
Born	Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. January 21, 1951 (age 61) Bronx, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Sharon Malone
Children	Maya Brooke Eric
Alma mater	Columbia University (A.B.) Columbia Law School (J.D.)
Profession	Attorney at Law
Religion	Episcopal

Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. (born January 21, 1951) is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first black American to hold the position,^[2] serving under President Barack Obama.

Holder previously served as a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and a United States Attorney. In that office he prosecuted Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (Democrat, Illinois) for corruption charges related to his role in the Congressional Post Office scandal. Later, he was Deputy Attorney General of the United States and worked at the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. He was senior legal advisor to then-Senator Barack Obama during Obama’s presidential campaign and one of three members of Obama’s vice-presidential selection committee.

[edit] Early life

Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. was born in the Bronx, New York, to parents with roots in Barbados.^{[3][4][dead link][5]} Holder’s father, Eric Himpton Holder, Sr. (1905–1970) was born in Saint Joseph, Barbados and arrived in the United States at the age of 11.^[6][7] He later became a real estate broker. His mother, Miriam, was born in New Jersey, while his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Saint Philip, Barbados.^[7] Holder grew up in East Elmhurst, Queens, and attended public school until the age of 10. When entering the 4th grade he was selected to participate in a program for intellectually-gifted students.^[8] In 1969, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan and attended Columbia University, where he played freshman basketball and was co-captain of his team. He earned a A.B. degree in American history in 1973.^[9] Holder received his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, graduating in 1976. He worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund during his first summer and the United States Attorney during his second summer.^[8]

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Holder

Eric Holder
82nd United States Attorney General
Incumbent
Assumed office February 3, 2009
President	Barack Obama
Deputy	David Ogden James Cole
Preceded by	Michael Mukasey
Deputy Attorney General of the United States
In office June 13, 1997 – January 20, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Jamie Gorelick
Succeeded by	Larry Thompson
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
In office October 1993 – June 13, 1997
Nominated by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	J. Ramsey Johnson[1]
Associate Judge on Superior Court of the District of Columbia
In office October 1988 – October 1993
Nominated by	Ronald Reagan
Personal details
Born	Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. January 21, 1951 (age 61) Bronx, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Sharon Malone
Children	Maya Brooke Eric
Alma mater	Columbia University (A.B.) Columbia Law School (J.D.)
Profession	Attorney at Law
Religion	Episcopal

Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. (born January 21, 1951) is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first black American to hold the position,^[2] serving under President Barack Obama.

Holder previously served as a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and a United States Attorney. In that office he prosecuted Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (Democrat, Illinois) for corruption charges related to his role in the Congressional Post Office scandal. Later, he was Deputy Attorney General of the United States and worked at the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. He was senior legal advisor to then-Senator Barack Obama during Obama’s presidential campaign and one of three members of Obama’s vice-presidential selection committee.

[edit] Early life

Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. was born in the Bronx, New York, to parents with roots in Barbados.^{[3][4][dead link][5]} Holder’s father, Eric Himpton Holder, Sr. (1905–1970) was born in Saint Joseph, Barbados and arrived in the United States at the age of 11.^[6][7] He later became a real estate broker. His mother, Miriam, was born in New Jersey, while his maternal grandparents were immigrants from Saint Philip, Barbados.^[7] Holder grew up in East Elmhurst, Queens, and attended public school until the age of 10. When entering the 4th grade he was selected to participate in a program for intellectually-gifted students.^[8] In 1969, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan and attended Columbia University, where he played freshman basketball and was co-captain of his team. He earned a A.B. degree in American history in 1973.^[9] Holder received his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, graduating in 1976. He worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund during his first summer and the United States Attorney during his second summer.^[8]

Source:

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

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

Sonia Gonzales

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In a scary development, a major Obama fundraiser who defended a convicted al Qaeda terrorist will become the third highest ranking official at the Department of Justice (DOJ), which, ironically, is charged with defending the interests of the United States.

Northern California lawyer Tony West has been named Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, making him the No. 3 guy at the agency. In 2009 West, who helped Obama raise tens of millions of dollars as finance co-chairman of his first presidential campaign, was appointed to help run the DOJ’s civil division which represents the government, Congress and presidential cabinet officers and handles cases dealing with significant policy issues.

In a statement announcing the promotion this week, Attorney General Eric Holder says West has served the department with “professionalism, integrity and dedication.” Holder also mentions West’s work before coming to the DOJ a few years ago, including a stint as a Special Assistant Attorney General in California and a lengthier career at a large San Francisco law firm.

Conveniently omitted in the press release is that West represented convicted al Qaeda terrorist John Walker Lindh, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Lindh was captured in Afghanistan in 2001 while fighting against the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance as a member of the Taliban army. He actually pleaded guilty to aiding the Taliban and carrying explosives while fighting U.S. troops in the region.

Please see story @:

http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/03/al-qaeda-defense-atty-no-3-at-obama…

As was previously reported on The Leslie Brodie Report Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) — Acting Associate Attorney General, the third highest official at the United States Department of Justice — is under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL.

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

 Eight years ago, the former federal and state prosecutor was running for a San Jose-area state Assembly seat. It was a nasty campaign, with partisans on both sides hitting hard. Days before the primary, voters received a mailer alluding to false claims that West was living in Oakland. His face was darkened and placed inside an Oakland Raiders logo, to make him appear “as if a gangsta were running,” as the San Jose Metro newspaper put it. West lost to Manny Diaz, a Democrat, who eventually was elected to the Assembly.

“I think he came out of that race a little less idealistic,” said his sister-in-law, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who has endorsed Obama. West married Harris’ sister Maya, his best friend from law school, and they have an adult daughter, Meena. “He is so smart, and he always sees the positive in everything, but that was below the belt.”

“I certainly hope that he would run for office again,” said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who called West “one of my mentees.”

Please see story @:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/29/MNIDV9158.DTL

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

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

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

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

   

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

   

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

   

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

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

   

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

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

   

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

Source:

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

Two well-placed legal experts have independently told Palmetto Public Record they expect the U.S. Department of Justice to issue an indictment against South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on charges of tax fraud as early as this week.

A highly ranked federal official has also privately confirmed rumblings of an investigation and possible indictment of the governor, though the official was not aware of the specific timeframe.

Yesterday, Palmetto Public Record exclusively reported that the Internal Revenue Service has been investigating since March of 2011 the Sikh worship center run by Gov. Haley’s father. At least five lawsuits have been filed against the Sikh Society of South Carolina since 2010, alleging that the group bilked contractors out of nearly $130,000 for the construction of a new temple.

Please continue @:

http://dancingczars.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/once-again-eric-holder-leads-sel…

About Morrison & Foerster’s James Brosnahan, Joe Dunn, and Voice of OC, please see @:

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

Please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/883u3mx

Amid continuing controversy over the sinful concubinage between Clown Willie Brown and paramour — Sonya Molodetskaya;  as part of a journalistic inquiry, The Leslie Brodie Report hereby asks Gem Communications’ Gwen Moore –  member of State Bar Of California Board of Governors pursuant to an appointment by Ms Karen Bass –  to opine on said sinful relationship.

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

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

Please see story @:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120221/ARTICLES/120229934/1036/busines…

Nadia Lockyer Hereby Asked to Disclose Whether She Feels  Bill Lockyer is like an “albatross hanging around my neck” — Similar to How Sonya Molodetskaya’s Current Paramour Is Hanging Around Neck of His Former Paramour –  Kamala Harris.

Related story, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2010/11/27/kamala-davi-harris-ex-mistress-of-w…

Amid Concerns, TLR Mulls Plans to Seek an “Intervention” from Concerned Friends of Immigrant Sonya Molodetskaya Re Peculiar Relationship with a Married Man –  Clown Willie Brown.

Developing story…. Details Soon……

“60 Days Suspension Scandal,” wherein a lawyer with a prior criminal history engaged in a pogrom in a San Francisco synagogue, yet was only suspended for 60 days due to his political connections within the Democratic party, and courtesy of Judy Johnson, Mike Nisperos, and JoAnn Remke.

See also @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2010/04/09/more-about-that-early-morning-in-sa…

Text of suit below. Related story, please visit:  http://bit.ly/zLFTyd

—————————————————————————————

KELLY H. ARMSTRONG (SBN 213036)
THE ARMSTRONG LAW FIRM
A Professional Corporation
807 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, California 94133
Telephone; (415) 928-1293
Facsimile: (415) 928-1294

Attorney for Plaintiff
KATHLEEN DRISCOLL

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

KATHLEEN DRISCOLL, an individual,

Plaintiff,
vs.

SENATOR JOHN BURTON, an individual, and DOES 1-50, inclusive
Defendants.

UNLIMITED JURISDICTION

COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES:

(1) SEXUAL HARASSMENT – FEHA
(2) FAILURE TO PREVENT HARASSMENT – FEHA
(3) INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Plaintiff alleges as follows:

INTRODUCTION

1. This is an action for damages due to (1) Sexual Harassment – FEHA; (2) Failure to Prevent Harassment and Retaliation – FEHA; and (3) Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

2. This action arises out of events involving Plaintiff KATHLEEN DRISCOLL and Defendants SENATOR JOHN BURTON, an individual, and DOES 1-50. KATHLEEN DRISCOLL was employed by SENATOR JOHN BURTON at his office located in San Francisco, California and therefore jurisdiction within this judicial district is proper.

THE PARTIES

3. Plaintiff KATHLEEN DRISCOLL (hereinafter “Plaintiff” or “DRISCOLL”) is informed and believes and thereon alleges that she was employed as the Executive Director of the John Burton Foundation, created and owned by JOHN BURTON (hereinafter “Defendant” or “BURTON”). She began working for Defendant on August 21, 2006, and is currently on medical leave from her employment. DRISCOLL entered into employment and was subjected to the wrongful conduct and discriminatory actions alleged herein in San Francisco, California. Plaintiff exhausted her administrative remedies by timely filing a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) against each defendant.

4. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant BURTON was at all times relevant herein an individual, Principal of the John Burton Foundation, and supervisor of DRISCOLL.

5. Plaintiff is ignorant of the true names and capacities of the defendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 50 therefore sues them by such fictitious names. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that said defendants are in some manner legally responsible for the activities and damages alleged herein. Plaintiff will amend this Complaint to allege their true names and capacities when ascertained.

6. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that at all times herein mentioned each of the defendants was acting as the partner, agent, servant, and employee of each of the remaining defendants, and in doing the things alleged herein was acting within the course and scope of such agency and with the knowledge of the remaining defendants.
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

7. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the factual allegations of paragraphs 1 through 6 above.

8. Isiah Thomas, Bill O’Reilly and Michael Bloomberg are just a few of the powerful men who have been hit with sexual harassment claims. Despite widespread publicity regarding unlawful sexual harassment by powerful men against women, the number of sexual harassment claims has remained constant over the past decade. In other words, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. According to statistics from the EEOC, sexual harassment in the workplace continues to be a major problem in this country with as many as 100 claims being filed every single work day of the year. Polls indicate that at least 40% of women say they have encountered unwanted sexual advances or remarks from men they work for, but very few of them say they reported the incident. Other polls indicate that perhaps as many as 90% of women said they had been subjected to unwanted sexual advances at work.

9. KATHLEEN DRISCOLL met SENATOR JOHN BURTON in 2004, when he established a donor-advised fund, The John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes, at the San Francisco Foundation (SFF). BURTON immediately began communicating with her regarding his desire to build his fundraising organization to support homeless children. BURTON asked DRISCOLL to meet him socially, but she informed him that their relationship was strictly professional and that she would never be interested in BURTON romantically.

10. In 2005, DRISCOLL left SFF for another employment opportunity. In May 2006, BURTON’S assistant contacted DRISCOLL to inform her that BURTON sought guidance and professional advice regarding his fundraising project. DRISCOLL met with BURTON regarding his plans to create a foundation to increase and manage his fundraising efforts. As a result, BURTON created the John Burton Foundation (hereinafter JBF), a project of Community Initiative Funds (CIF) of SFF, and hired DRISCOLL as the Executive Director of JBF on August 21, 2006.

11. During DRISCOLL’S employment, BURTON engaged in hostile, demeaning and sexually abusive conduct such that DRISCOLL’S working conditions were significantly altered. His conduct over the past year easily rises to the level of severe or pervasive conduct for a hostile work environment sexual harassment claim both in California and under federal law. The harassing acts started in approximately September 2006. They consisted of numerous events, which took place throughout DRISCOLL’S employment, including but not limited to:
• Asking DRISCOLL over the phone, “What are you wearing?” on approximately 10 occasions;

• On one occasion, DRISCOLL sent a temporary employee to deliver paperwork to BURTON. BURTON ordered DRISCOLL to never send someone on her behalf again by berating her, “When you drop stuff off, stop in will ya? I mean I’m not getting laid under the fuckin’ table.”

• Singling DRISCOLL out for exorbitant demands and attention, included but not limited to excessive demands for immediate and frequent meetings to go over routine matters, including on weekends after the work week was over in contrast to her co-workers;

• On one occasion, BURTON asked DRISCOLL to meet him on a weekend. When she arrived, BURTON presented her with a movie ticket and postponed the meeting until after the movie. After several more weekend meetings, DRISCOLL informed BURTON in a voicemail message that she could not meet him on weekends and that she was uncomfortable seeing movies with him because it felt strange and inappropriate;

• On November 1, 2006, BURTON required DRISCOLL to attend a formal event with him so she could potentially meet prospective donors to JBF. BURTON instructed DRISCOLL to meet him prior to the event, which she assumed meant to meet him at his office. When DRISCOLL called BURTON to inform him that she was on her way to his office, BURTON began to scream and swear at her, telling her that he wanted her to meet him at his home in Potrero Hill. DRISCOLL responded that Potrero Hill was entirely out of her way, and instead met him in front of the event. At the event, BURTON put his hand on the back of DRISCOLL chair and rubbed her back with his thumb. DRISCOLL moved away and after the event, informed BURTON that his conduct was inappropriate and would lead others to believe they were involved romantically. BURTON responded, “That’s what I want them to think.” BURTON than asked DRISCOLL why she had not come to his house before the event by saying, “What did you think I was going to fucking rape you when you came to my house?”

• Frequently raising his voice when addressing DRISCOLL and repeating phrases such as “fuck me” in a raised voice approximately 60 times throughout her employment;

• Informing DRISCOLL on approximately 20 occasions throughout her employment, “Oh, I had a dream about you last night,” while raising his eyebrows in a sexually suggestive manner;

• Making comments regarding DRISCOLL wearing a thong on approximately 20 occasions during her employment;

• Telling DRISCOLL that she was “probably wild sexually like all Catholic girls;”

• Introducing DRISCOLL to business associates as a thong model on approximately 10 occasions, and then laughing and remarking that DRISCOLL had turned red with embarrassment;

• Constantly screaming at DRISCOLL, such as “Sit the fuck down DRISCOLL!” when she stood to leave his office after a meeting;

• Commenting on DRISCOLL’S body, particularly her breasts and her buttocks. On one occasion BURTON commented, “Your nipples aren’t showing and its cold outside.” On approximately five occasions, BURTON remarked, “Nipples standing hard;”

• Informing DRISCOLL on approximately three occasions that he often had “platonic sex with friends, lesbians and straight, whatever”;

• Making hand gestures mimicking masturbation on approximately 10 occasions;

• Screaming at DRISCOLL, “What the fuck is wrong with you?” and “Look at me when I’m talking to you!”

• Handing DRISCOLL an insurance form with a prescription for a male performance enhancing drug similar to Viagra and saying, “This stuff really works;”

• On one occasion, as DRISCOLL walked past him, BURTON raised both his hands and made a gesture as though he were squeezing DRISCOLL’S breasts;

• Hitting DRISCOLL on the buttocks with a newspaper and saying, “You do work out, you have a tight ass;”

• Telling DRISCOLL that her t-shirt turned him on because it was made from silk and silk turned him on;

• While DRISCOLL was leaving an event, BURTON raised his arm and stuck up his middle finger at her; and

• When DRISCOLL told BURTON to cease his abusive conduct, he responded, “I thought you liked to be yelled at because you have 14 brothers.”

12. DRISCOLL responded to BURTON’S advances and inappropriate comments by informing him that his conduct was inappropriate and unwelcome, yet he continued to harass her. DRISCOLL complained numerous times regarding BURTON’S abusive and harassing conduct. Specifically, she complained to Melanie Blum regarding BURTON’S weekend meetings and his requiring DRISCOLL to attend movies with him. DRISCOLL again complained to Human Resources, to Ms. Blum, and to BURTON’S daughter Kimiko Burton twice regarding the abusive conduct to which she was subjected. However, no one did anything and failed to investigate DRISCOLL’S complaints. Finally, DRISCOLL complained again on August 22, 2007 regarding the sexual harassment to which she had been subjected, and the failure to investigate her previous complaints. It was not until DRISCOLL hired San Francisco attorney Kelly Armstrong of The Armstrong Law Firm that her complaints were finally acknowledged.

13. BURTON made inappropriate sexual advances on a regular and ongoing basis, used vulgar and profane language and publicly humiliated DRISCOLL with sexual comments and behavior. BURTON engaged in a pattern and practice of sexual harassment against DRISCOLL. BURTON has a long history of being abusive, crass and profane. As recently as last month, BURTON bragged at a Sacramento luncheon about conducting State of California business at a strip club with another former State Senator. BURTON has a reputation among the Capital press corps for his vulgar language, volcanic temper and unpleasant demeanor. BURTON is his own worst enemy. DRISCOLL has experienced emotional distress as a result of BURTON’s sexual harassment of her and is presently receiving psychological treatment and prescription medication for her emotional distress.

14. BURTON has attempted to intimidate DRISCOLL by frequently stating how powerful he is and how he is above the law. However, there are basic tenets of human respect and dignity, which have been largely disregarded here. How sad and disappointing that a man who has a history of helping the underprivileged and trying to protect people could so deeply contradict his purported public values in his personal life. BURTON’s actions are against a woman who did everything within her power to try and help him maintain and build his own public interest foundation to help homeless children.

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
FEHA – CAL. GOVT. CODE § 12940 et seq.
AGAINST DEFENDANTS BURTON AND DOES 1-50

15. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the factual allegations of paragraphs 1 through 14 above.

16. The above conduct was unwelcome, directed towards Plaintiff, and was part of an ongoing and continuing pattern of conduct.

17. The above conduct caused Plaintiff to perceive her work environment as intimidating, hostile, abusive or offensive.
18. Complaints and/or information about much of the harassing conduct were made to Defendants, but the harassment continued. After the complaints, the harassment continued.

19. Plaintiff filed timely complaints against the Defendants with the DFEH alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and failure to prevent sexual harassment. Thereafter, Plaintiff received from the DFEH notification of her right to sue in the Courts of the State of California, the Defendants for which complaints had been filed.

20. Defendants’ acts were malicious, oppressive or fraudulent with intent to vex, injure, annoy, humiliate and embarrass Plaintiff, and in conscious disregard of the rights or safety of Plaintiff and other employees of Defendants, and in furtherance of Defendants’ ratification of the wrongful conduct of the employees and managers of Defendants. Accordingly, Plaintiff is entitled to recover punitive damages from Defendants.

21. By reason of the conduct of Defendants and each of them as alleged herein, Plaintiff has necessarily retained attorneys to prosecute the within action. Plaintiff is therefore entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses, including expert witness fees and costs, incurred in bringing the within action.

22. As a result of Defendants and each of their actions, Plaintiff sus¬tained economic damages to be proven at trial. As a further result of Defendants’ and each of their actions, Plaintiff suffered emotional distress; resulting in damages to be proven at trial.

23. The above harassing conduct violates Government Code §§ 12940 et seq. and California public policy and entitles Plaintiff to all categories of damages, including exemplary or punitive damages.

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION

FAILURE TO PREVENT HARASSMENT
FEHA – CAL. GOVT. CODE § 12940(j) & (k)
AGAINST DEFENDANTS BURTON AND DOES 1-50

24. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the factual allegations of paragraphs 1 through 23 above.

25. In violation of California Government Code § 12940 et seq., Defendants, and each of them, failed to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation against employees for opposing forbidden practices.

26. In perpetrating the above-described conduct, Defendants, and each of them, engaged in a pattern, practice, policy and custom of sexual harassment. Said conduct on the part of Defendants, and each of them, constituted a policy, practice, tradition, custom and usage which denied Plaintiff protection of California Government Code § 12940 et seq.

27. At all relevant time periods, Defendants, and each of them, failed to make an adequate response and investigation into the conduct of Defendants and the aforesaid pattern and practice, and thereby established a policy, custom, practice or usage within the organization of Defendants, which condoned, encouraged, tolerated, sanctioned, ratified, approved of, and/or acquiesced in sexual harassment towards Plaintiff.

28. At all relevant time periods there existed within the organization of Defendants, and each of them, a pattern and practice of conduct by their personnel which resulted in sexual harassment, and/or retaliation, including but not necessarily limited to, conduct directed at Plaintiff.

29. At all relevant time periods there existed within the organization of Defendants, and each of them, a pattern and practice of conduct by personnel which resulted in retaliation toward anyone, including but not limited to Plaintiff, who complained of sexual harassment toward employees.

30. Defendants did not have an adequate sexual harassment policy and did not provide adequate sexual harassment training with respect to its employees and managers.

31. Defendants, and each of them, knew or reasonably should have known that the failure to provide adequate education, training, and information as to their personnel policies and practices regarding sexual harassment, and retaliation for complaining or resisting sexual harassment, would result in sexual harassment and retaliation against employees including but not limited to Plaintiff, for complaining or resisting the same.

32. The failure of Defendants, and each of them, to provide any or adequate education, training, and information to personnel concerning policies and practices regarding sexual harassment, and retaliation for complaining of or resisting the same, constituted deliberate indifference to the rights of employees, including but not limited to those of Plaintiff, under California Government Code § 12940 et seq.

33. By reason of the conduct of Defendants and each of them as alleged herein, Plaintiff has necessarily retained attorneys to prosecute the within action. Plaintiff therefore is entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses, including expert witness fees and costs, incurred in bringing the within action. As a result of Defendants and each of their actions, Plaintiff sus¬tained economic damages to be proven at trial. As a further result of Defendants’ and each of their actions, Plaintiff suffered emotional distress; resulting in damages to be proven at trial.

34. The conduct of Defendants and/or their agents/employees as described herein was malicious, and/or oppressive, and done with a willful and conscious disregard for Plaintiff’s rights and for the deleterious consequences of Defendants’ actions. Defendants and/or their agents/employees or supervisors authorized, condoned and ratified the unlawful conduct of the remaining Defendants. Consequently, Plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages against Defendants.

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
AGAINST DEFENDANTS BURTON AND DOES 1 THROUGH 50

35. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the factual allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 34 herein.

36. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendants, by and through its principals, agents and employees conducted themselves unlawfully in violation of public policy and applicable law as described above with conscious disregard of the result or outcome of such act. The unlawful harassment, retaliation, conduct towards and termination of Plaintiff, due to its improper motivations and surrounding circumstances constitute extreme and outrageous conduct by the Defendants, and each of them.

37. Through the outrageous conduct described above, Defendants acted with the intent to cause, and with reckless disregard for the probability of causing Plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress.

38. At all relevant times, Defendants had actual or constructive knowledge of extreme and outrageous conduct described herein, and condoned, ratified and participated in such extreme and outrageous acts.

39. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ willful, knowing and intentional acts, and Defendants’ failure to act, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer mental distress and anguish. Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer a loss of earnings, stock options, and other employment benefits and job opportunities. Plaintiff is thereby entitled to general and compensatory damages in amount to be proven at trial.

40. The acts of Defendants, as alleged herein, were done with fraud, oppression and malice, with a conscious disregard for Plaintiff’s rights; and with the intent, design and purpose of injuring Plaintiff, with an improper and evil motive amounting to malice, in conscious disregard of Plaintiff’s rights. Plaintiff is therefore entitled to recover punitive damages against

Defendants, and each of them.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, PLAINTIFF prays for relief as follows:
1. For general damages according to proof, however, no less than the jurisdictional limit of this court;
2. For special damages in amounts according to proof;
3. For punitive damages in amounts according to proof;
4. For attorneys’ fees as provided by law;
5. For prejudgment, post-judgment and other interest as provided by law;
6. For cost of suit incurred herein; and
7. For such other and further relief as the Court deems fair and just.
Dated: January 23, 2008 THE ARMSTRONG LAW FIRM

____________________________
KELLY H. ARMSTRONG
Attorney for Plaintiff
KATHLEEN DRISCOLL

Developing story…. Details soon….

*TLR publishes below an edited version of a comment submitted by one of our readers.  Please note, however, that neither Leslie Brodie nor The Leslie Brodie Report were ever the subject of any threats of litigation, as the commnet below incorrectly mentions.  While an improper threat of litigation was made by CPUC Ex-Commissioner Geoffrey Brown, said comment was directed towards confidential complainant. See Here , and Here , and Here.

————————————————————————————-

Please be advised that these are only opinions, are in no way guarantees of
any kind, are protected free speech statements, and are made without
warranty — express or implied.

The items you have posted raise concerns, and they exist in the backdrop of
recent journalistic and judicial reports of governmental corruption at the
federal, state and local level.

There are other items of disclosure that would cast a greater
spotlight on the issues you raise. I decline to raise them in a public
forum, however, suffice it to say that they exist and are well documented.

My preliminary opinion is that you have shown there is a smoldering amount
of smoke. Where there smoke there is often fire. There are probably
significant volumes of notes that should be compared, and other things that
could be discussed. I am particularly concerned about the threat of
litigation made to you, as a result of your investigative reporting. This
threat is clearly improper and could possibly be unlawful in and of itself.

Apparently, State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris — who bears a very
close affiliation with the California State Bar — is under current
scrutiny by other prosecutors and trustees. Indeed, General Harris has
recently been sued in her official capacity for interfering with money
earmarked to be paid to the victims of disgraced financier Bernie Madoff.
I have attached certain pleadings related thereto, for your convenience.

In short, you may recite that my preliminary opinion is “something does not
smell right” and “it appears Leslie Brodie has caught certain fiduciaries
speeding.”

In the end, the public always wins battles against governmental corruption
and you are certainly on the right track. Sometimes, the battle may appear
on “tough days” to be “a losing battle,” but the truth should always be
your beacon. You apparently are well aware of that.

If we are somehow unable to speak “real time”, I wish you the best of luck
in your quest to expose and cast light on the truth.

Please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/yucaipas-ron-burkle-hereby-asked-to-disclose

The Leslie Brodie Report hereby asks sordid John Burton to disclose motives behind funneling of funds from the Ron Burkle Foundation to the John Burton Foundation

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

Any reply, if any, can be deliverered to lesliebrodie@gmx.com

Related links, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/ron-burkle-foundation-grant-recipients-tlr-no

And @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2010/07/24/amid-sordid-revelations-concerning-…

The Leslie Brodie Report hereby asks Mr Ron Burkle of London-based Yucaipa to disclose motives behind funneling of funds from the Ron Burkle Foundation to the foundations of sordid John Burton and Clown Willie Brown.

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

Any reply, if any, can be deliverered to lesliebrodie@gmx.com

Related link, please see @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/ron-burkle-foundation-grant-recipients-tlr-no

Original post @:

http://lesliebrodie.posterous.com/thomas-girardi-and-david-lira-of-girardi-kees

Related post @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2011/09/21/state-bar-of-california-california-…