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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOUTH HADLEY – “Nobody goes to work saying, ‘I’m going to be a whistleblower today,’” said Jesselyn Radack.

Radack, 41, a lawyer and former ethics adviser to the U.S. Department of Justice, said she – like most people who become whistleblowers – was just doing her job “when things started to go awry and I started to ask questions.”

Radack, of Washington, was at Mount Holyoke College with Daniel Ellsberg for a panel discussion Wednesday titled “Whistleblowing: From the Pentagon Papers to WikiLeaks.”

The incident that turned Radack into a whistleblower involved John Walker Lindh, the young man dubbed the “American Taliban,” who was captured during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Radack disclosed the FBI’s ethical violations in its interrogation of Lindh and exposed misleading statements made by former Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Her questions about the handling of Lindh’s case eventually led to her resignation from the Justice Department, and later prompted her to contact Michael Isikoff, an investigative reporter at Newsweek magazine, who told her story. Radack now works as the national security and human rights director for the Government Accountability Project (www.whistleblower.org) in Washington.

In talks she and other whistleblowers give to students around the country, Radack said, they try to counter the negative view of whistleblowers that the Bush and Obama administrations have advanced since 9/11.

Like Ellsberg, she had gone into government service, not to expose wrong, but with the strong conviction that government “always wears the white hat,” Radack said. It was only after seeing wrongdoing, she said, that she had to make “tough decisions” about whether, and how, to act on it. She said she still believes that “our government can work – and it often does work.”

Please continue @:

http://www.gazettenet.com/2012/03/29/whistleblowers-can-pay-heavy-price-for-s…

See also @:

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See excerpt below from 2008 CaliforniaALL’s tax return.

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

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

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See original source HERE

THE MAKE BELIEF LAUNCHING OF SAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please double-click on the photo for full view.

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

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

Voice of OC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source:

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

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

Sonia Gonzales

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“]

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

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

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

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

GOD bless our troops and may GOD bless America!

Patriotically yours,

Sarah Roman

 Please visit @:

http://usamericanfreedom.com/

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

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

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

TLR’s previously published article “The Chosen Dunn” which reads:

“Judicial Council

Friday August 26, 2006 8:45 a.m., San Francisco, California.

The Judicial Council of the State of California held a meeting at the Administration Office of the Courts(AOC).

A partial list of members present include Chief Justice Ronald George, Justice Marvin Baxter, Rex Heinke, and Thomas Girardi. Absent was member Joseph Dunn.

During a similar meeting held on Friday April 27, 2007; Judicial Council members Thomas Girardi and Joseph Dunn were both absent.

The Voice of OC

In September of 2009, Mr. Joseph Dunn (AKA Joe Dunn) launched “The Voice of OC” — an online publication design to investigate and report about corruption in Orange County.

Thomas Girardi as well as Joe Dunn serve as members of The Voice of OC’s Board of Directors

Executive Director, State Bar of California

According to the LegalPad, on Septermber 20, 2010 State Bar President Howard Miller of Girardi & Keese announced that the board of governors of the State Bar of California chose Joe Dunn “after a nationwide search,” and that he’ll start sometime after the State Bar annual convention in Monterey.”

We were remiss in failing to mention that in addition to Mr. Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese, Mr. James J. Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster also was a member of Voice of OC’s Board of Directors.

Please see original entry @:

http://tinyurl.com/THECHOSENDUNN

As previously reported, both Mr. Girardi and Mr. Brosnahan abruptly quit their position at Voice of OC.  Please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/voiceofoc

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

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

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

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

See Original entry @:

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

The panel upheld San Francisco U.S. District Senior Judge Samuel Conti, who refused to grant Yudof immunity under the 11th Amendment but dismissed the suit for failure to state a claim.

Applying two past cases, the panel noted that Yudof has a “fairly direct” connection to the enforcement of Prop 209. “He is duty-bound to ensure that his employees follow it and refrain from using race as a criterion in admission decisions,” Judge Barry Silverman wrote for the panel. Silverman rejected Yudof’s argument that he is merely “implementing,” not “enforcing” it.

Please see story @:

www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticleCA.jsp?id=1202547752830&Ninth_Circuit_Reject…

(L-R) Honoring Jeffrey Bleich 2007 Dinner Chairman James Brosnahan, Mark Bostick, Honoree Jeffrey Bleich (AKA Renaissance Superman), Ninth Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher 

Below, California Bar Foundation IRS Form 990 :

Below, originally published on November of 2011:

As public service to the community, The Leslie Brodie Report publishes* a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) against Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency DBA Voice of OC, below:

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

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

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

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

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

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

*Links and photos inserted by The Leslie Brodie Report.

(L-R) Honoring Jeffrey Bleich 2007 Dinner Chairman James Brosnahan, Mark Bostick, Honoree Jeffrey Bleich (AKA Renaissance Superman), Ninth Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher 

Below, California Bar Foundation IRS Form 990 :

Below, originally published on November of 2011:

As public service to the community, The Leslie Brodie Report publishes* a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) against Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency DBA Voice of OC, below:

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

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

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

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

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

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

*Links and photos inserted by The Leslie Brodie Report.

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…

Pierce O’Donnell — a Democratic Party operative associated with the Girardi Syndicate — has been found guilty of a “serious crime” which involves misrepresentation, fraud, deceit or the use of dishonesty by funneling illegal campaign contributions to former Sen. John Edwards

U.S. Chief Judge Audrey Collins of the Central District of California quickly ordered O’Donnell — former co-counsel in the El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra litigation — suspended from practicing law before any federal court located in the district. He has been assigned a federal prison ID # 49097-112. It is how he will be known for as long as he is behind bars when he begins his 60 days prison sentence on May 7, 2012.

As was reported HERE earlier, O’Donnel is still under TLR/YR’s extreme scrutiny in connection with the strong prima facie showing by which money which was “laundered” through and/or misappropriated from the California Bar Foundation was used to launch “Voice of OC” — a newly-created online publication which State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn had launched with the help of Democratic Party operatives Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

(For more about this story, please see HERE and HERE and HERE. About CaliforniaALL –sham non-profit entity allegedly used to execute and mask the plan, please see HERE.)

O’Donnell has been involved in countless legal proceedings involving his numerous acts of misconduct, described briefly below:

1. Criminal proceedings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court relating to unlawful contributions to James Hahn.

2. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

3. State Bar of California alternative proceedings relating to his mental illness (O’Donnell failed to comply with the conditions of the program and his participation was terminated).

4. Administrative proceedings advanced by both the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

5. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his attempt to mislead a Nevada state court.

Separately,and as was reported HERE earlier, Petitioner Pierce O’Donnell is asking Judge Thomas Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for “legal separation” from spouse Dawn O’Donnell.

Pierce O’Donnell — a Democratic Party operative associated with the Girardi Syndicate — has been found guilty of a “serious crime” which involves misrepresentation, fraud, deceit or the use of dishonesty by funneling illegal campaign contributions to former Sen. John Edwards

U.S. Chief Judge Audrey Collins of the Central District of California quickly ordered O’Donnell — former co-counsel in the El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra litigation — suspended from practicing law before any federal court located in the district. He has been assigned a federal prison ID # 49097-112. It is how he will be known for as long as he is behind bars when he begins his 60 days prison sentence on May 7, 2012.

As was reported HERE earlier, O’Donnel is still under extreme scrutiny in connection with the strong prima facie showing by which money which was “laundered” through and/or misappropriated from the California Bar Foundation was used to launch “Voice of OC” — a newly-created online publication which State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn had launched with the help of Democratic Party operatives Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

(For more about this story, please see HERE and HERE and HERE. About CaliforniaALL –sham non-profit entity allegedly used to execute and mask the plan, please see HERE.)

O’Donnell has been involved in countless legal proceedings involving his numerous acts of misconduct, described briefly below:

1. Criminal proceedings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court relating to unlawful contributions to James Hahn.

2. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

3. State Bar of California alternative proceedings relating to his mental illness (O’Donnell failed to comply with the conditions of the program and his participation was terminated).

4. Administrative proceedings advanced by both the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

5. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his attempt to mislead a Nevada state court.

Separately,and as was reported HERE earlier, Petitioner Pierce O’Donnell is asking Judge Thomas Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for “legal separation” from spouse Dawn O’Donnell.

Pierce O’Donnell — a Democratic Party operative associated with the Girardi Syndicate — has been found guilty of a “serious crime” which involves misrepresentation, fraud, deceit or the use of dishonesty by funneling illegal campaign contributions to former Sen. John Edwards

U.S. Chief Judge Audrey Collins of the Central District of California quickly ordered O’Donnell — former co-counsel in the El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra litigation — suspended from practicing law before any federal court located in the district. He has been assigned a federal prison ID # 49097-112. It is how he will be known for as long as he is behind bars when he begins his 60 days prison sentence on May 7, 2012.

As was reported HERE earlier, O’Donnel is still under extreme scrutiny in connection with the strong prima facie showing by which money which was “laundered” through and/or misappropriated from the California Bar Foundation was used to launch “Voice of OC” — a newly-created online publication which State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn had launched with the help of Democratic Party operatives Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

(For more about this story, please see HERE and HERE and HERE. About CaliforniaALL –sham non-profit entity allegedly used to execute and mask the plan, please see HERE.)

O’Donnell has been involved in countless legal proceedings involving his numerous acts of misconduct, described briefly below:

1. Criminal proceedings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court relating to unlawful contributions to James Hahn.

2. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

3. State Bar of California alternative proceedings relating to his mental illness (O’Donnell failed to comply with the conditions of the program and his participation was terminated).

4. Administrative proceedings advanced by both the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

5. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his attempt to mislead a Nevada state court.

Separately,and as was reported HERE earlier, Petitioner Pierce O’Donnell is asking Judge Thomas Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for “legal separation” from spouse Dawn O’Donnell.

Pierce O’Donnell — a Democratic Party operative associated with the Girardi Syndicate — has been found guilty of a “serious crime” which involves misrepresentation, fraud, deceit or the use of dishonesty by funneling illegal campaign contributions to former Sen. John Edwards

U.S. Chief Judge Audrey Collins of the Central District of California quickly ordered O’Donnell — former co-counsel in the El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra litigation — suspended from practicing law before any federal court located in the district. He has been assigned a federal prison ID # 49097-112. It is how he will be known for as long as he is behind bars when he begins his 60 days prison sentence on May 7, 2012.

As was reported HERE earlier, O’Donnel is still under extreme scrutiny in connection with the strong prima facie showing by which money which was “laundered” through and/or misappropriated from the California Bar Foundation was used to launch “Voice of OC” — a newly-created online publication which State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn had launched with the help of Democratic Party operatives Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

(For more about this story, please see HERE and HERE and HERE. About CaliforniaALL –sham non-profit entity allegedly used to execute and mask the plan, please see HERE.)

O’Donnell has been involved in countless legal proceedings involving his numerous acts of misconduct, described briefly below:

1. Criminal proceedings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court relating to unlawful contributions to James Hahn.

2. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

3. State Bar of California alternative proceedings relating to his mental illness (O’Donnell failed to comply with the conditions of the program and his participation was terminated).

4. Administrative proceedings advanced by both the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

5. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his attempt to mislead a Nevada state court.

Separately,and as was reported HERE earlier, Petitioner Pierce O’Donnell is asking Judge Thomas Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for “legal separation” from spouse Dawn O’Donnell.

Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), the world’s largest legal search firm, announced recently the placement of Frank H. Wu as Chancellor and Dean of UC Hastings College of the Law. The search was led by Martha Fay Africa and Steve John in MLA’s San Francisco office.

Ms. Martha Fay Africa (AKA Marty Africa) is the managing director at Major, Lindsey & Africa .  Formerly Director of Law Placement at the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, and a founder of ABA Women Rainmakers, she is Co-Chair of the ABA LPM Section’s Management Core Group Standing Committee on Diversity. According to schizophrenia specialist — Berkeley-based psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Africa — former patient James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster and Ms.Africa were having an illicit love affair.  Recently Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac was nominated by Ms. Africa as Rainmaker of the Year.  Incidentally, both Brosnahan and Mac Cormac are under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL for the alleged suspicious activities of laundering money to State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn of Voice of OC via the California Bar Foundation — Please see HERE and HERE for additional information. (image: courtesy of Major, Lindsey & Africa)

As was previously reported on The Leslie Brodie Report — which also exposed the hiring proclivities of Kerr & Wagstaffe — a proclivity which appeared to favor young white females as associates and males as partners,  to date, none of the young women who were hired as associates ever made it to the level of a partner at the firm. This, despite having stellar resumes.  Notable examples include:

Ms. Holly Hogan, prior to obtaining a J.D. from the Harvard School of Law, graduated magna cum laude from USF. Holly never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe despite her exceptional qualifications. She is currently an associate with the firm of K & L Gates (Photo: Courtesy Kerr & Wagstaffe)

Ms. Tricia Weaver, graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna, she attended Georgetown University Law Center where she graduated cum laude. Tricia never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe and is no longer with the firm. (Photo: Courtesy of SuperLawyers)

Ms. Connie Merriett, earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law where Wagstaffe is employed as an adjunct-professor. Connie never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe, and is currently employed elsewhere (Photo: Courtesy)

Ms. Elizabeth Arnold, was employed by Kerr & Kaus. However, Ms. Arnold did not remain when the firm metamorphosed itself to Kerr & Wagstaffe. She has a BA from Smith College (1965), a Master of Arts from Middlebury College (1966) and a law degree from the University of California Boalt Hall School of Law (1975). Elizabeth never made it to Kerr & Wagstaffe. (Photo Credit: linked from Kelley & Farren)

Ms. Dawn Marie Melton, currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. (Photo credit: linked form K & W)

Ms. Maria Radwick, currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Obtained her legal education at Hastings College of the Law. (photo: linked from K & W)

Ms. Kelly Corcoran,currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Obtained her legal education at Hastings College of the Law. (photo: linked from K & W)

UC Hastings law professor James Wagstaffe’s penchant manifested itself  again recently by the hiring of a UC Hastings graduate Cheryl Mackey, seen below:

The Leslie Brodie Report also pointed to the fact that Kerr & Wagstaffe treat male associates differentially. Associate Michael von Loewenfeldt, for example, was made partner after only two(2) years.  Other male associates who made it to partnership in the firm include Messrs.Sawyer, Ng, and Labar.  When we published our first story concerning Kerr & Wagstaffe, the firm racial and gender make-up was as follows:

*Out of 10 lawyers, all but one is White.

*Out of 7 Partners, all but one are Males. (This was changed around 2010, where a female, non-equity, partner was hired. Prior to that, for most of 2009, all the partners were men, and all the associates were females)

*All the associates are females. There are no male associates.

*All the females’ associates are white (Ms. Melton, Ms. Radwick, and Ms. Corcoran)

*All the female associates are young.

* Two out of the three associates are from Hastings College of the Law, where Wagstaffe teaches. Their resume is not as impressive as that of Mr. Ng.

TLR is closely monitoring the situation and will keep readers apprised of the opinion, if any, of Marty Fay Africa — Co-Founder & Managing Director of San Francisco-based  legal recruting firm Major Lindsey & Africa.

As public service to the community, The Leslie Brodie Report re-publishes a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) against Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency DBA Voice of OC, below:

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

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

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

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

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

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

For more about CaliforniaALL, please visit:

http://californiaall.posterous.com

Marty Fay Africa — Co-Founder & Managing Director of San Francisco-based  legal recruiting firm Major Lindsey & Africa — have been publicly asked by TLR to opine on the peculiar pattern of hiring and promotion proclivities at San Francisco-based Kerr & Wagstaffe headed by UC Hastings law professor James M. Wagstaffe.

Ms. Martha Fay Africa (AKA Marty Africa) is the managing director at Major, Lindsey & Africa .  Formerly Director of Law Placement at the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, and a founder of ABA Women Rainmakers, she is Co-Chair of the ABA LPM Section’s Management Core Group Standing Committee on Diversity. According to schizophrenia specialist — Berkeley-based psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Africa — former patient James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster and Ms.Africa were having an illicit love affair.  Recently Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac was nominated by Ms. Africa as Rainmaker of the Year.  Incidentally, both Brosnahan and Mac Cormac are under scrutiny in connection with non-profit entity CaliforniaALL for the alleged suspicious activities of laundering money to State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn of Voice of OC via the California Bar Foundation — Please see HERE and HERE for additional information. (image: courtesy of Major, Lindsey & Africa)

As was previously reported on The Leslie Brodie Report — which also exposed the hiring proclivities of Kerr & Wagstaffe — a proclivity which appeared to favor young white females as associates and males as partners,  to date, none of the young women who were hired as associates ever made it to the level of a partner at the firm. This, despite having stellar resumes.  Notable examples include:

Ms. Holly Hogan, prior to obtaining a J.D. from the Harvard School of Law, graduated magna cum laude from USF. Holly never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe despite her exceptional qualifications. She is currently an associate with the firm of K & L Gates (Photo: Courtesy Kerr & Wagstaffe)

Ms. Tricia Weaver, graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna, she attended Georgetown University Law Center where she graduated cum laude. Tricia never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe and is no longer with the firm. (Photo: Courtesy of SuperLawyers)

Ms. Connie Merriett, earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law where Wagstaffe is employed as an adjunct-professor. Connie never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe, and is currently employed elsewhere (Photo: Courtesy)

Ms. Elizabeth Arnold, was employed by Kerr & Kaus. However, Ms. Arnold did not remain when the firm metamorphosed itself to Kerr & Wagstaffe. She has a BA from Smith College (1965), a Master of Arts from Middlebury College (1966) and a law degree from the University of California Boalt Hall School of Law (1975). Elizabeth never made it to Kerr & Wagstaffe. (Photo Credit: linked from Kelley & Farren)

Ms. Dawn Marie Melton, currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. (Photo credit: linked form K & W)

Ms. Maria Radwick, currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Obtained her legal education at Hastings College of the Law. (photo: linked from K & W)

Ms. Kelly Corcoran,currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Obtained her legal education at Hastings College of the Law. (photo: linked from K & W)

UC Hastings law professor James Wagstaffe’s penchant manifested itself  again recently by the hiring of a UC Hastings graduate Cheryl Mackey, seen below:

The Leslie Brodie Report also pointed to the fact that Kerr & Wagstaffe treat male associates differentially. Associate Michael von Loewenfeldt, for example, was made partner after only two(2) years.  Other male associates who made it to partnership in the firm include Messrs.Sawyer, Ng, and Labar.  When we published our first story concerning Kerr & Wagstaffe, the firm racial and gender make-up was as follows:

*Out of 10 lawyers, all but one is White.

*Out of 7 Partners, all but one are Males. (This was changed around 2010, where a female, non-equity, partner was hired. Prior to that, for most of 2009, all the partners were men, and all the associates were females)

*All the associates are females. There are no male associates.

*All the females’ associates are white (Ms. Melton, Ms. Radwick, and Ms. Corcoran)

*All the female associates are young.

* Two out of the three associates are from Hastings College of the Law, where Wagstaffe teaches. Their resume is not as impressive as that of Mr. Ng.

TLR is closely monitoring the situation and will keep readers apprised of the opinion, if any, of Marty Fay Africa — Co-Founder & Managing Director of San Francisco-based  legal recruting firm Major Lindsey & Africa.

The Leslie Brodie Report exposed the hiring proclivities of Kerr & Wagstaffe; a proclivity which appeared to favor young white females as associates and males as partners. Unfortunately, to date, none of the young women who were hired as associates ever made it to partnership in the firm. This, despite having a stellar resume and qualifications. Three notable examples are the associates who are no longer with the firm who still practice law in the Bay Area:

Ms. Holly Hogan, prior to obtaining a J.D. from the Harvard School of Law, graduated magna cum laude from USF. Holly never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe despite her exceptional qualifications. Her picture, nevertheless, was posted very shortly after she commenced her employment with the firm. She is currently an associate with the firm of K & L Gates (Photo: Courtesy Kerr & Wagstaffe)

Ms. Tricia Weaver, graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna, she attended Georgetown University Law Center where she graduated cum laude. Tricia never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe and is no longer with the firm. Her picture, nevertheless, was posted very shortly after she commenced her employment with the firm.(Photo: Courtesy of SuperLawyers)

Ms. Connie Merriett, earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law where Wagstaffe is employed as an adjunct-professor. Connie never made partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe, and is currently employed elsewhere. Her picture, nevertheless, was posted very shortly after she commenced her employment with the firm. (Photo: Courtesy)

Ms. Elizabeth Arnold, was employed by Kerr & Kaus. However, Ms. Arnold did not remain when the firm metamorphosed itself to Kerr & Wagstaffe. She has a BA from Smith College (1965), a Master of Arts from Middlebury College (1966) and a law degree from the University of California Boalt Hall School of Law (1975). Elizabeth never made it to Kerr & Wagstaffe. (Photo Credit: linked from Kelley & Farren)

Ms. Dawn Marie Melton, currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Her picture was posted very shortly after she commenced her employment with the firm. (Photo credit: linked form K & W)

Ms. Maria Radwick, currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Obtained her legal education at Hastings College of the Law. Her picture was posted very shortly after she commenced her employment with the firm.(photo: linked from K & W)

Ms. Kelly Corcoran,currently an associate with Kerr & Wagstaffe. Obtained her legal education at Hastings College of the Law. Her picture was posted very shortly after she commenced her employment with the firm.(photo: linked from K & W)

TLR also pointed to the fact that Kerr & Wagstaffe treat male associates differentially. Associate Michael von Loewenfeldt, for example, was made partner after only two(2) years.

Other male associates who made it to partnership in the firm include Messrs.Sawyer, Ng, and Labar.

Before TLR’s involvement, the firm’s web-site was organized in such a way that pictures of men were placed on the top of the page, and the pictures of the females were placed on the bottom of the page. Succumbing to pressure, the firm quickly rearranged the order of the pictures.

When we published our first story concerning Kerr & Wagstaffe, the firm racial and gender make-up was as follows:

*Out of 10 lawyers, all but one is White.

*Out of 7 Partners, all but one are Males. (This was changed around 2010, where a female, non-equity, partner was hired. Prior to that, for most of 2009, all the partners were men, and all the associates were females)

*All the associates are females. There are no male associates.

*All the females’ associates are white (Ms. Melton, Ms. Radwick, and Ms. Corcoran)

*All the female associates are young.

* Two out of the three associates are from Hastings College of the Law, where Wagstaffe teaches. Their resume is not as impressive as that of Mr. Ng.

After TLR exposed Kerr & Wagstaffe’s kenspeckle proclivities, in May of this year the firm hired a new male associate, Mr. Daniel Zaheer. A highly qualified and capable attorney.

Addendum to Disempowerment of Eliana Lopez — Similar to Use and Abuse of Women/Racial Minorities by James Brosnahan, John Keker, Joe Cotchett, Wayne Gretsky, Joe Dunn and Others Who Disempowered Annette Carnegie, Jon Streeter, Nancy Fineman, Alec Chang and Jill Sperber, Respectively.

See relevant stories @:

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

AND @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/01/19/jill-sperber-of-state-bar-of-califo…

WAYNE GRETSKY

In the legal dispute between MGA (Bratz Dolls) and Mattel (Barbie Dolls), it is estimated that MGA’s legal cost to date are close to $200 million.  According to Mattel, Bratz Dolls were designed by a former Mattel employee (Carter Bryant) before he jumped ship to MGA. Mattel sought $2 billion in damages, and according to Bob Eckert, Mattel’s CEO, pursues the case “as a matter of principle.”

Representing El Segundo, California-based Mattel was John Quinn of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.

Defendant Carter Bryant was represented by Keker & Van Nest’s John Keker. Los Angeles-based MGA and founder/CEO Isaac Larian were initially represented by O’Melveny & Myers. However, a dispute erupted when O’Melveny insisted that partner Daniel Petrocelli serve as lead counsel in the case.

Mr. Larian was not thrilled about Petrocelli and fired O’Melveny altogether. O’Melveny immediately demanded payment of $10 million it claims MGA and Mr. Larian owe the firm in unpaid and outstanding legal fees.

With a looming  trial date, no counsel, and a threat from O’Melveny that if he does not pay he will be sued, Mr. Larian went knocking on the door of Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese.

MGA TEAM — COUNSELS WHO REPRESENTED DEFENDANT MGA (“BRATZ DOLLS”.) FROM LEFT: SKADDEN ARPS’ RAOUL KENNEDY AND THOMAS NOLAN ; HOWARD RICE’S JEROME FALK AND DOUGLAS WINTHROP; KEKER & VAN NEST’S JOHN KEKER AND MGA’S IN-HOUSE COUNSEL, MR. CRAIG HOLDEN.

Specifically,  Larian asked Girardi to look into the fees it had paid to O’Melveny.  According to media reports, Girardi stated, “When O’Melveny couldn’t get Petrocelli in the lead chair it wanted off the case. We are taking a look at the massively large fees that happened with the O’Melveny representation. On first blush, it seems like an awful lot of money for what has been accomplished. I think the client has strong reason to have great concern.”

At approximately the same time, Girardi’s friend — Thomas Nolan of Skadden Arps — was chosen to serve as counsel for MGA and Mr. Larian instead of O’Melveny.  At that time, also representing MGA  was its own in-house counsel, Mr. Craig Holden.

Thomas Nolan, who served as Girardi’s defense counsel (along with Diane Karpman) in the Ninth Circuit disciplinary matter of In Re Girardi stemming from an attempt  by Walter Lack and Thomas Girardi to defraud the Ninth Circuit , is a well-known and respected attorney. According to Mr. Girardi, Thomas Nolan “is like “Wayne Gretsky” – he doesn’t look any bigger, tougher or faster, but the next thing you know he’s scored four goals. And he’s always a gentleman.”

Following a verdict against MGA, preparations were made for the second stage of the trial to set damages, which were estimated to be approximately $500 million. At the conclusion of that stage, the jury awarded $100 million to Mattel. In addition, Judge Stephen Larson issued a draconian injunction against MGA, ipso facto dissolving it.

Following the trial, Wayne Gretsky of Skadden Arps quickly arranged for Howard Rice’s Jerome Falk and Douglas Winthrop to join the legal team and file an immediate emergency motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which subsequently reversed the entire judgment.

WAYNE GRETSKY-THOMAS GIRARDI -JOHN KEKER-JOE COTCHETT  PROXIES REVEALED

At the conclusion of the appeal in a civil case prosecuted by the firms of Girardi & Keese and Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack against Dole Food Company, Chief Judge Alex Kozinski issued an order to show cause why Thomas Girardi and Walter Lack should not be disbarred, suspended, or sanctioned for the attempt to defraud this Court for the purpose of unjustly collecting a $500 million judgment.

Representing Thomas Girardi in those disciplinary proceedings before ther Ninth Circuit were Wayne Gretsky of Skadden Arps and ethics expert Diane Karpman.

Oral arguments ensued, during which one of the judges on the panel stated that the “elephant” in the room is the manner in which the matter would be developed by the State Bar of California.

Subsequently, the Court found both Girardi and Lack culpable, and imposed close to $500,000.00 in monetary sanctions, reprimanded Girardi, and suspended Lack.   Some of the findings included that Lack and Girardi have resorted to employing “the persistent use of known falsehoods” and that “false representations” were made “knowingly, intentionally, and recklessly” during years of litigation.

The State Bar of California assigned the matter to an outside special prosecutor (Jerome Falk of Howard Rice) since Howard Miller of Girardi & Keese served as President of the State Bar, and had hired the Chief Trial counsel of the State Bar at the time, Mr. James Towery.

After conducting an interview with Walter Lack, Jerome Falk chose to not file any charges against Lack or Girardi based on his position that any false statements submitted were not “intentional.” This determination was contrary to findings made by the Ninth Circuit.

Within days of the issuance of Mr. Falk’s decision, YR advanced an ethics complaint against James Towery, Jerome Falk, Howard Miller, and Douglas Winthrop, contending that it had been improper for Mr. Towery to select Jerome Falk (of Howard Rice) to serve as special prosecutor because, among other reasons, Howard Miller (of Girardi & Keese) had appointed Howard Rice’s managing partner (Douglas Winthrop) as president of the California Bar Foundation, a foundation owned, controlled, and maintained by the State Bar of California, as well as because of the close business relationship between Howard Rice’s Jerome Falk and Wayne Gretsky of Skadden Arps.

Subsequently, and fortuitously, YR  also discovered that Lack and Girardi were actually clients of Jerome Falk and Howard Rice.  YR had inquired with Mr. Hawley of the State Bar of California whether this fact was known to the Special Master investigating the complaint.  The State Bar of California remained mum.

Subsequently, Jerome Falk wrote to YR:

I received your November 13 email concerning my participation in the State Bar’s investigation of Walter J. Lack, Thomas V. Girardi and other attorneys. It is filled with disparaging characterizations, all of which seem to stem from your allegations that I or my firm have represented Mr. Lack and Mr. Girardi.

Your allegations are false.

I have never represented either person, or their firms. Neither has Douglas Winthrop. Nor has my firm ever represented Mr. Lack or Mr. Girardi.

From 2006-2008, my firm represented several law firms, including Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack and Girardi & Keese, in a litigation matter. The public records of that litigation show that neither Mr. Winthrop nor I had nothing to do with that representation; in fact, I was unaware of it. The public records also show that my firm represented the law firms, but did not represent Mr. Girardi or Mr. Lack. The attorney responsible for that representation had left Howard Rice and taken the files with him before I was asked to serve as Special Deputy Trial Counsel in the State Bar matter.

You are on notice that your allegations are false. The falsity of those allegations can be determined from the public records of the litigation in question.

Jerome B. Falk, Jr.

Complainant YR wrote back:

Dear Mr. Falk:

Thank you for replying to my letter of November 13th, 2011 This will serve as a reply.

In your letter dated December 7, 2011, you attempt again to defraud and mislead in your attempt to avoid responsibility for your repugnant and deceitful actions taken in connection with your actions as a special prosecutor on behalf of the State Bar of California against two of your and your firm’s clients — Girardi & Keese and Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack (and by operation of law, Thomas Girardi and Walter Lack), as part of a scheme to exploit your authority for financial gain.

By analogy, rather than acknowledging that you were caught with your hand in the cookie jar, you seek to bamboozle the unwary by stating that it wasn’t actually your hand in the cookie jar but, rather, only your fingers, and in any event it wasn’t a jar but, rather, a plastic container which you contend doesn’t qualify as a jar. Therefore, you devote an entire paragraph proclaiming, “Your allegations are false.” You conclude by placing me on “notice” that my allegations are “false.”

The contents of your communication are unethical in the extreme, as well as entirely frivolous factually, legally, and by operation of law, to wit:

You claim, “In fact, I wasn’t aware of it” (referring to the fact that you and your firm had represented Girardi & Keese and ELL). While you acknowledge your firm (Howard Rice) did represent Girardi & Keese and ELL from 2006 to 2008 , you assert that you were not aware of this representation. Simply put, your assertion is false; it is simply implausible that for two entire years you were unaware that your firm represented such celebrity/famous/notorious attorneys such as Thomas Girardi, Walter Lack, and Pierce O’Donnell.

This is particularly true since you are a member of Howard Rice’s “attorney liability” group, which consists of between 7-9 attorneys (including your colleagues Sean SeLegue, Pamela Phillips, and Steve Mayer), and the subject matter of the litigation was a suit advanced against Girardi & Keese, ELL, and O’Donnell for legal malpractice in connection with alleged attorney misconduct in the litigation involving El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra Energy, a series of cases which received significant publicity.

I am also hard-pressed to believe that you were unaware of the estimated $250,000 retainer Girardi & Keese and ELL paid to your firm (money which paid your and your colleagues’ salaries), and that no one ever discussed this matter with you for purposes of addressing legal strategy or legal issues in person or during meetings.

Most importantly, in your letter to Robert Baker you acknowledge that you had interviewed Walter Lack. Again, you ask me to believe that Walter Lack did not mention the fact that Howard Rice represented him and his firm only one year prior to your meeting.

The fact that Walter Lack did not speak up during the interview with you is just too convenient, and is further circumstantial evidence that you and he both knew of the prior representation, and chose to nevertheless further continue with the conspiracy to obstruct justice for financial gain, to the detriment of the public and the proper administration of justice. Complete story, please continue HERE.

Proxies at the State Bar of California Board of Governors are the president of  State Bar of California Jon Streeter of Keker & Van Nest, Alec Chang of Skadden Arps, Nancy Fineman of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, Craig Holden, and executive director of the State Bar of California — Voice of OC’s Joe Dunn, below:

Please see updated material @:

http://tinyurl.com/brosnahanmanatcalbarfoundation

Dr. Michael Ledeen of The Foundation for Defense of Democracies Hereby Asked to Opine on Alleged Prima Facie Showing of Money Laundering Involving James Brosnahan (John Keker, Who Prosecuted Oliver North, Presently in Background Via Proxy as Cleaner)

Part 1

Pierce O’Donnell — a Democratic Party operative associated with the Girardi Syndicate — has been found guilty of a “serious crime” which involves misrepresentation, fraud, deceit or the use of dishonesty by funneling illegal campaign contributions to former Sen. John Edwards

U.S. Chief Judge Audrey Collins of the Central District of California quickly ordered O’Donnell — former co-counsel in the El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra litigation — suspended from practicing law before any federal court located in the district. He has been assigned a federal prison ID # 49097-112. It is how he will be known for as long as he is behind bars when he begins his 60 days prison sentence on May 7, 2012.

As was reported HERE earlier, O’Donnel is still under extreme scrutiny in connection with the strong prima facie showing by which money which was “laundered” through and/or misappropriated from the California Bar Foundation was used to launch “Voice of OC” — a newly-created online publication which State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn had launched with the help of Democratic Party operatives Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

(For more about this story, please see HERE and HERE and HERE. About CaliforniaALL –sham non-profit entity allegedly used to execute and mask the plan, please see HERE.)

O’Donnell has been involved in countless legal proceedings involving his numerous acts of misconduct, described briefly below:

1. Criminal proceedings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court relating to unlawful contributions to James Hahn.

2. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

3. State Bar of California alternative proceedings relating to his mental illness (O’Donnell failed to comply with the conditions of the program and his participation was terminated).

4. Administrative proceedings advanced by both the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

5. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his attempt to mislead a Nevada state court.

Separately,and as was reported HERE earlier, Petitioner Pierce O’Donnell is asking Judge Thomas Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for “legal separation” from spouse Dawn O’Donnell.

Part 2

As public service to the community, The Leslie Brodie Report publishes* a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) against Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency DBA Voice of OC, below:

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

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

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

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

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

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

Part 3

Please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/7anaewa

AND @:

http://californiaall.posterous.com/

As public service to the community, The Leslie Brodie Report re-publishes a complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) against Orange County’s Nonprofit Investigative News Agency DBA Voice of OC, below:

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

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

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

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

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

INTRODUCTION OF ACTORS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FACTUAL BACKGROUND:

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

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

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

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

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

CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in June 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

For more about CaliforniaALL, please visit:

http://californiaall.posterous.com

Profile of Martha Africa (TLR Note: According to Schizophrenia Specialist — Berkeley Psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Africa — Patient James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster Had an Illicit Affair with Martha Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa)  Profile, below:                                      

LinkedIn

Among the joys of being part of Major, Lindsey & Africa is the great learning that comes from interacting with clients and candidates from all over the world. Formerly a Placement Director at Boalt Hall School of Law, Martha Fay Africa (Marty) occasionally thinks that her job has not changed much since leaving academia. Helping a client or a candidate get from point A to point B is still at the heart of what she does and that is why she loves it.

Working on searches at all levels from general counsel to executive director to counsel for varied organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Texas Pacific Group, the University of California, and Blue Shield of California, to give a representative sample, consumes perhaps half of her time. Retained in-house searches at all levels, writing and public speaking about issues of interest to lawyers and law students, and service on non-profit boards consume the remainder.

Please see complete profile @:

http://www.mlaglobal.com/legal-search/martha-fay-africa/604d9773-6838-73af-6d…

In Prima Facie Showing of Money Laundering to Joe Dunn’s Voice of OC — Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac Revisited Amid Revelations of Alleged Illicit Affair Between James Brosnahan and Martha Fay Africa of Major Lindsey & Africa 

On April 2011, TLR Wrote:

Please see original @:       http://tinyurl.com/6pmkewj 

Morrison & Foerster’s Susan Mac Cormac and Dian Grueneich

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

On March 21, 2011, Morrison & Foerster announced the hiring of former CPUC Commissioner Dian Grueneich. See below:

Upon the hiring of CPUC Commissioner Grueneich, Mac Cormac stated: “Energy policy is a strategic concern for every industry as companies closely monitor regulatory changes both to capitalize on opportunities for growth, and to address potential risks to their business models. Dian’s command of these essential issues will be a strategic asset to both new and existing clients. Her policymaking experience and prior activities, not only in California but nationally and internationally, add a vital element to our existing energy, environmental and Cleantech capabilities. She will work closely with attorneys advising on patent and intellectual property, corporate transactions, project finance, development, and litigation matters. Her arrival is a clear signal of our strength as one of the preeminent Cleantech practices.”

Ms. Susan Mac Cormac, partner in the Corporate Group and co-chair of the Cleantech Group of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office. Ms. Mac Cormac is a member of the State Bars of California and New York.

Ms. Dian Grueneich, former CPUC commissioner. On March 21, 2011, Ms. Grueneich joined MOFO as a partner in the Environment and Energy Practice in its San Francisco office. According to MOFO,”Ms. Grueneich’s arrival is an important addition to Morrison & Foerster’s Environment and Energy and Cleantech Practices.” Also joining MOFO was Ms. Grueneich’s longtime colleague and former Chief of Staff, Theresa Cho. Ms. Cho joined MOFO as Of Counsel in the firm’s San Francisco office. Ms. Grueneich and Ms. Cho specialize in energy regulation with specific expertise in transmission, energy efficiency, smart grid, and renewable energy. (Photo:courtesy)

According to confidential sources close to the investigations of CaliforniaALL/CCPF, recent revelations concerning MOFO serve as an “important piece of the puzzle, especially if we examine circumstances surrounding James Brosnahan, Joe Dunn, Thomas Girardi, and Erwin Chemerinsky.”

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

Notice below name of Martha Fay Africa (alleged former paramour of James Brosnahan) of Major Lindsey & Africa 

Law Practice Today | Meet the Rainmakers: Susan Mac Cormac

Name: Susan Mac Cormac
Firm Name: Morrison & Foerster
Address: 425 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105-2482
Phone: 415-268-6060
Nominated by Martha Fay Africa
Practice area: Corporate Law

Susan Mac Cormac is a partner in the Corporate Group of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office. She currently serves as a co-chair of the Venture Capital/ Emerging Companies Group and the Cleantech Group for the firm worldwide. She is also co-chair of the Clean Technology and Climate Change Committee of the ABA Section of Science & Technology Law.

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

Alleged prima facie showing of money laundering involving James Brosnahan, Thomas Girardi, and Joe Dunn of Voice of OC, please see @:

http://tinyurl.com/c6taoaf

And @

http://tinyurl.com/883u3mx

Michael Ledeen

Michael Arthur Ledeen (born Los Angeles, California, August 1, 1941) is an American specialist on foreign policy. His research areas have included state sponsors of terrorism, Iran, the Middle East, Europe (Italy), U.S.-China relations, intelligence, and Africa (Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe) and is a leading neoconservative.^[1] He is a former consultant to the United States National Security Council, the United States Department of State, and the United States Department of Defense. He has also served as a special adviser to the United States Secretary of State. He held the Freedom Scholar chair at the American Enterprise Institute where he was a scholar for twenty years and now holds the similarly named chair at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He is a contributing editor to National Review, contributes to the Wall Street Journal, and regularly appears on Fox News and on a variety of radio talk shows. Ledeen has been on PBS’s NewsHour and CNN’s Larry King Live, among others.^[2] He is a founding member of Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs and serves on their Board of Advisers.

In 1974, Michael Ledeen moved to Rome where he studied the history of Italian Fascism. In 1977, he went to Washington to join the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (then affiliated with Georgetown University). He continues to visit Italy frequently.

In 1980, Ledeen worked for the Italian military intelligence service as a “risk assessment” consultant.^[3] In 1981, Michael Ledeen then became Special Adviser to secretary of state Alexander Haig.

[edit] Academic and political career

Ledeen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he specialized in Modern Europe. At Washington University in St. Louis, Ledeen was denied tenure, according to history department faculty interviewed by the Washington Post, because of questions regarding the “quality of his scholarship” and about whether Ledeen had “used the work of somebody else without proper credit”. One faculty member said “the ‘quasi-irregularity’ at issue didn’t warrant the negative vote on tenure for Ledeen”.^[3]

Ledeen was subsequently named Visiting Professor at the University of Rome. One of Ledeen’s principal mentors was the Jewish German-born historian George Mosse, for whom he was research assistant at the time. Mosse wrote two famous books on National Socialism. Another major influence on Ledeen was the Italian historian Renzo De Felice. Ledeen held political views which stress “the urgency of combating centralized state power and the centrality of human freedom”^[4] that are said to have influenced or inspired the Bush administration.^{[citation needed]}

Earlier in his career, Ledeen authored Universal Fascism: The Theory and Practice of the Fascist International, 1928–1936, published in 1972 and now out of print. The book, which was his doctoral dissertation, was the first work to explore Italian leader Benito Mussolini‘s efforts to create a Fascist international in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Ledeen follows Italian historian Renzo de Felice in drawing a distinction between “fascism-regime” and “fascism-movement”, and seems to approve of at least one aspect of the latter, saying “fascism nevertheless constituted a political revolution in Italy. For the first time, there was an attempt to mobilize the masses and to involve them in the political life of the country”, and describing the fascist state as “a generator of energy and creativity”.^[1] Ledeen continued his studies in Italian Fascism with a study of the takeover of Fiume by Italian irredentist forces under Gabriele d’Annunzio, who Ledeen argued was the proto-type for Mussolini.

Ledeen is a strong admirer of Niccolò Machiavelli, whom he regards as one of the greatest political thinkers. In Ledeen’s view, Machiavelli combined democratic idealism and the necessary political realism to secure and defend idealism in perfect measure.

In 1980, in the period leading up to the U.S. presidential elections, Ledeen, along with Arnaud de Borchgrave, wrote a series of articles published in The New Republic^[5] and elsewhere about Billy Carter‘s contacts with the Muammar al-Gaddafi regime in Libya.

Ledeen has been a long time and active supporter of political dissidents, particularly those of Iranian nationality. In June 2008, he personally purchased the plane ticket to transfer Iranian student activist, Ahmad Batebi, from Erbil, Iraq, to Washington DC, where Batebi was escorted by NSC officials from his plane in Dulles International Airport to the custody of his lawyer, Lily Mazahery.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Italy

Ledeen has been accused of associations with shady organizations. For example, Jim Lobe has stated that “Ledeen’s right-wing Italian connections—including alleged ties to the P2 masonic lodge that rocked Italy in the early 1980s—have long been a source of speculation and intrigue, but he returned to Washington in 1981 as ‘anti-terrorism’ advisor to the new secretary of state, Al Haig.”^[6] While he acknowledges being paid by the SISMI in 1980 for “risk assessment”,^[3] Ledeen denies any connections with Licio Gelli‘s masonic lodge. Ledeen told Vanity Fair that he had been paid $10,000 by the SISMI in 1979 or 1980 for advising them on extradition matters between Italy and the US.^[7] He denied having worked with [Francesco] Pazienza or Propaganda Due as part of a disinformation scheme. “I knew Pazienza,” he explained. “I didn’t think P-2 existed. I thought it was all nonsense—typical Italian fantasy.”^[7] Pazienza, while at SISMI, did help Ledeen obtaining a tape confirming information on “Billygate.”^[8]

It was during this time in Italy that Ledeen supported the “Bulgarian connection” conspiracy theory concerning Grey Wolves member Mehmet Ali Ağca‘s 1981 attempt to assassinate Pope John Paul II. The theory has since been attacked by various authors and journalists, including Washington Post reporter Michael Dobbs, who initially believed the story. The theory was adopted in 2005 by the Italian Mitrokhin Commission. According to Craig Unger, “With Ronald Reagan newly installed in the White House, the so-called Bulgarian Connection made perfect Cold War propaganda. Michael Ledeen was one of its most vocal proponents, promoting it on TV and in newspapers all over the world.”^[7]

[edit] Consultant on terrorism

In the early 1980s, Ledeen appeared before the newly established Senate Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, alongside former CIA director William Colby, author Claire Sterling and former Newsweek editor Arnaud de Borchgrave. Both Ledeen and de Borchgrave worked for the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University at the time.^[9] All four testified that they believed the Soviet Union had provided for material support, training and inspiration for various terrorist groupings.^[10]

Ledeen was a strong proponent of the theories in the book The Terror Network written by Claire Sterling that held that the USSR was the source of much of the international terrorism in the world.

[edit] The Iran-Contra scandal

Ledeen was involved in the Reagan administration‘s Iran-Contra scandal. As a consultant of National Security Advisor Robert C. McFarlane, Ledeen vouched for Iranian intermediary Manucher Ghorbanifar. In addition, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, officials of the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to arrange meetings with high-ranking Iranian officials as well as the much-criticized weapons-for-hostages deal with Iran.^[11] Ledeen’s own version of the events is published in his book, Perilous Statecraft.^[12]

[edit] Yellowcake forgery allegations

Ledeen has been accused of being involved in the forgery which claimed that Saddam Hussein had bought yellowcake in Niger.

According to a September 2004 article by Joshua Micah Marshall, Laura Rozen, and Paul Glastris in Washington Monthly:^[13]

“The first meeting occurred in Rome in December, 2001. It included Franklin, Rhode, and another American, the neoconservative writer and operative Michael Ledeen, who organized the meeting. (According to UPI, Ledeen was then working for Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith as a consultant.) Also in attendance was Ghorbanifar and a number of other Iranians.”

In 2005, Vincent Cannistraro, former head of counterterrorism operations at the CIA and the intelligence director at the National Security Council under Ronald Reagan, when asked by Ian Masters if Ledeen was the source of the forged memo, replied, “You’d be very close.” However, just moments earlier when asked, “Do we know who produced those documents?” Cannistraro stated, ” I’d rather not speak about it right now, because I don’t think it’s a proven case”.^[14]

Former CIA counter-terrorism officer Philip Giraldi, who is Cannistraro’s business partner and a columnist for The American Conservative, a paleoconservative magazine, said in an interview on July 26, 2005 that the forgeries were produced by “a couple of former CIA officers who are familiar with that part of the world who are associated with a certain well-known neoconservative who has close connections with Italy” and went on to confirm that he was referring to Ledeen. Giraldi added that the ex-CIA officers “also had some equity interests, shall we say, with the operation. A lot of these people are in consulting positions, and they get various, shall we say, emoluments in overseas accounts, and that kind of thing.”^[15]

Giraldi stated in The American Conservative:^[16]

At this point, any American connection to the actual forgeries remains unsubstantiated, though the OSP at a minimum connived to circumvent established procedures to present the information directly to receptive policy makers in the White House. But if the OSP is more deeply involved, Michael Ledeen, who denies any connection with the Niger documents, would have been a logical intermediary in co-ordinating the falsification of the documents and their surfacing, as he was both a Pentagon contractor and was frequently in Italy. He could have easily been assisted by ex-CIA friends from Iran-Contra days, including a former Chief of Station from Rome, who, like Ledeen, was also a consultant for the Pentagon and the Iraqi National Congress. It would have been extremely convenient for the administration, struggling to explain why Iraq was a threat, to be able to produce information from an unimpeachable “foreign intelligence source” to confirm the Iraqi worst-case. The possible forgery of the information by Defense Department employees would explain the viciousness of the attack on Valerie Plame and her husband. Wilson, when he denounced the forgeries in the New York Times in July 2003, turned an issue in which there was little public interest into something much bigger. The investigation continues, but the campaign against this lone detractor suggests that the administration was concerned about something far weightier than his critical op-ed.

Andrew McCarthy and Mark R. Levin have defended Ledeen, writing^[17]

Up until now, the fiction recklessly spewed by disgruntled intelligence-community retirees and their media enablers—some of whom have conceded that the claim is based on zero evidence—has been that Michael had something to do with the forged Italian documents that, according to the Left’s narrative, were the basis for President Bush’s “lie” in the 2003 State of the Union Address that Saddam Hussein had obtained yellowcake uranium (for nuclear-weapons construction) in Africa.

[edit] Iraq War advocacy

Regarding regime change in Iraq, in 2002 Ledeen criticized the views of former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, writing:^[18]

He fears that if we attack Iraq “I think we could have an explosion in the Middle East. It could turn the whole region into a cauldron and destroy the War on Terror.”

One can only hope that we turn the region into a cauldron, and faster, please. If ever there were a region that richly deserved being cauldronized, it is the Middle East today. If we wage the war effectively, we will bring down the terror regimes in Iraq, Iran, and Syria, and either bring down the Saudi monarchy or force it to abandon its global assembly line to indoctrinate young terrorists.

That’s our mission in the war against terror.

Ledeen specifically called for the deposition of Saddam Hussein’s regime by force in 2002:

So it’s good news when Scowcroft comes out against the desperately needed and long overdue war against Saddam Hussein and the rest of the terror masters.^[18]

and:

Question #2: Okay, well if we are all so certain about the dire need to invade Iraq, then when do we do so?

Ledeen: Yesterday^[19]

Ledeen’s statements prior to the start of the Iraq war such as “desperately needed and long overdue war against Saddam Hussein” and “dire need to invade Iraq” make his later statement that he “opposed the military invasion of Iraq before it took place” to be an “outright lie” to Glenn Greenwald.^[20] However, Ledeen maintains these statements are consistent since: “I advocated—as I still do—support for political revolution in Iran as the logical and necessary first step in the war against the terror masters.”^[21]

[edit] Personal life

Ledeen is married to his second wife, Barbara. His first wife was Jenny Ledeen of St. Louis, Mo. Ledeen has three children: Simone, Gabriel, and Daniel. Simone has worked both in Iraq and Afghanistan for the Department of Defense; Gabriel is currently a Lieutenant in the United States Marines Corps serving his second tour in Iraq; and Daniel is currently serving a Lieutenant in the USMC.^[32]

See full profile @:

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

Events relating to Mr. Brosnahan, please see @:

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

AND @:

http://lesliebrodie.blog.co.uk/2012/01/19/jill-sperber-of-state-bar-of-califo…

Michael Ledeen

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My past with “Johnny Jihad’s” lawyer

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com – EVERY now and then events conspire to produce a perfect match, and never did a defendant and his defense attorney deserve each other more than John Walker Lindh and James Brosnahan. Lindh, a.k.a. “Johnny Jihad,” has drawn Brosnahan to defend him against the government’s charges of, well, something just this side of treason, at least for the moment.

Most people probably don’t remember that Brosnahan has been in Washington before, when he was a prosecutor for the celebrated Iran-Contra Special Prosecutor, Lawrence Walsh. I remember it better than most, because I was once called to testify by Brosnahan, and it was a memorable morning.

Brosnahan was a relatively late arrival to the Walsh team, and by the time he got there I had been told that I was no longer considered a “target” for criminal investigation. So when I was called, it was on the basis that they had found some new information about something or other, and they hoped I might be able to help them.

After discussing a bit of ancient history, Brosnahan got to the point. “Have you ever heard of a man named Bruce Rappaport?”

I had. A guy by that name had been involved in a scheme to build a gas or petroleum pipeline across Iraq, and that scheme had caused some heartburn for the former Attorney General Ed Meese. Was that the guy Brosnahan had in mind?

“Right. Also the person into whose bank account the famous $10 million dollars was misdirected by Oliver North’s secretary, Fawn Hall.”

That was news to me, and I thanked Brosnahan for the information.

“Do you know him?” Brosnahan continued.

“No,” I said.

There was then an embarrassed silence, as Brosnahan and two associates shifted around in their chairs.

“Are you sure you don’t know him?”

“Believe me,” I said, “Swiss millionaires are not my social set.”

More silence and shifting.

“Well, you know, he’s supposed to be a big Zionist.”

Which was the whole point. I’m Jewish, he’s a big Zionist, so we must get together for conspiracy meetings from time to time, right?

“So?”

“So we thought you might know him.”

That was pretty much the end of it. And as we walked back to our offices I asked my lawyer what she thought of that, and she said that if she hadn’t actually been there she would never have believed it.

Which is why I think Johnny Jihad has the perfect lawyer. They’ve got a lot in common.

Please see source:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michael/ledeen012902.asp

Article Re Voice of OC, please see @:

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

Selected parts, below:

“Marti” Africa, although he acknowledged knowing her and serving on several state Bar committees with her in past years.

Martha Africa operates an attorney recruitment company in San Francisco. She was unavailable to discuss the case Monday, but said she would comment soon.

Brosnahan became embroiled in partisan national politics when he contributed $1,000 to the Clinton-Gore campaign five days before the 1992 presidential election, while he was a member of then former Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh’s Iran-contra team.

Republicans accused Brosnahan of partisanship when he filed notes in court papers that allegedly contradicted President George Bush’s claim that he had been “out of the loop” in the scandal.

Brosnahan told Berkeley police that he had seen Africa for counseling “12 to 15 times” in the early 1980s, but had had no contact with him since, according to the police report.

Not since Joe Francis have we seen someone shake up their legal roster as often as John Edwards, who is scrambling to cobble together a defense team as federal prosecutors raise conflict-of-interest concerns about his counsel of choice.

In an 11-page memorandum and order handed down Wednesday, U.S. district court judge Catherine Eagles approved Edwards’s hire of new attorneys from North Carolina firm Smith Moore Leatherwood, who replace Charlotte-based Womble Carlyle partners James Cooney III and Claire Rauscher.

Please see complete story @:

http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2012/03/edwards-legal-team.html

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf

Ms Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California further wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://tinyurl.com/79qba29

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

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

AND @:

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

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

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

Pierce O’Donnell — a Democratic Party operative associated with the Girardi Syndicate — has been found guilty of a “serious crime” which involves misrepresentation, fraud, deceit or the use of dishonesty by funneling illegal campaign contributions to former Sen. John Edwards

U.S. Chief Judge Audrey Collins of the Central District of California quickly ordered O’Donnell — former co-counsel in the El Paso Natural Gas/Sempra litigation — suspended from practicing law before any federal court located in the district. He has been assigned a federal prison ID # 49097-112. It is how he will be known for as long as he is behind bars when he begins his 60 days prison sentence on May 7, 2012.

As was reported HERE earlier, O’Donnel is still under extreme scrutiny in connection with the strong prima facie showing by which money which was “laundered” through and/or misappropriated from the California Bar Foundation was used to launch “Voice of OC” — a newly-created online publication which State Bar of California Executive-Director Joe Dunn had launched with the help of Democratic Party operatives Thomas Girardi of Girardi & Keese and James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster.

(For more about this story, please see HERE and HERE and HERE. About CaliforniaALL –sham non-profit entity allegedly used to execute and mask the plan, please see HERE.)

O’Donnell has been involved in countless legal proceedings involving his numerous acts of misconduct, described briefly below:

1. Criminal proceedings in the Los Angeles County Superior Court relating to unlawful contributions to James Hahn.

2. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

3. State Bar of California alternative proceedings relating to his mental illness (O’Donnell failed to comply with the conditions of the program and his participation was terminated).

4. Administrative proceedings advanced by both the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

5. State Bar of California Court proceedings relating to his attempt to mislead a Nevada state court.

Separately,and as was reported HERE earlier, Petitioner Pierce O’Donnell is asking Judge Thomas Anderle of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for “legal separation” from spouse Dawn O’Donnell.

CalALL_Dec2008Newsletter

http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf

Ms Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jill Sperber of the State Bar of California further wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://tinyurl.com/79qba29

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

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

AND @:

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

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

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

No Man Is Above The Law

John Keker of Keker & Van Nest

The Leslie Brodie Report Has Updated Article Delineating Fraudulent Statements by Jill Sperber of State Bar of California; Links to Prima Facie Showing of Money Laundering Through California Bar Foundation; Quote by John Keker of Keker & Van Nest.

Please see updated article @:

http://tinyurl.com/883u3mx

While on its face the article references events relating to alleged ethical violations in the litigation between Sara Granda v. State Bar of California; boiling underneath the surface are prima facie showing of money laundering via the California Bar Foundation, and subsequent misappropriation of said funds by Voice of OC — an online publication established by State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn with the help of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan.

Recently, Placer County Assistant District Attorney Clark Gehlbach, and fellow State Bar of California  BOG Members Joe Dunn of Voice of OC, Jon Streeter of Keker & Van Nest, Alec Chang of Skadden Arps, Nancy Fineman of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, Gretchen Nelson of Kreindler & Kreindler, Gwen Moore of GeM Communication, public member Jeannine English, Craig Holden of Lewis Brisbois, Samson Elsbernd, Karen Goodman, Loren Kieve, Pearl Gondrella Mann, Luis Rodriguez, Heather Linn Rosing, Lowell Carruth, public member George Davis of Davis Broadband Group, Cheryl Hicks, Patrick Kelly, Wells Lyman, Mark Shem, and public member Dennis Mangers have pressed criminal charges against the complainant on the ground that the ethics complaint relating to the case of Sara Granda v. State Bar of California, was false and malicious in violation of California Business & Professions Code 6043.5

The Leslie Brodie Report Has Updated Article Delineating Fraudulent Statements by Jill Sperber of State Bar of California; Links to Prima Facie Showing of Money Laundering Through California Bar Foundation; Quote by John Keker of Keker & Van Nest.

Please see updated article @:

http://tinyurl.com/883u3mx

While on its face the article references events relating to alleged ethical violations in the litigation between Sara Granda v. State Bar of California; boiling underneath the surface are prima facie showing of money laundering via the California Bar Foundation, and subsequent misappropriation of said funds by Voice of OC — an online publication established by State Bar of California executive director Joe Dunn with the help of Thomas Girardi and James Brosnahan.

Recently, Placer County Assistant District Attorney Clark Gehlbach, and fellow State Bar of California  BOG Members Joe Dunn of Voice of OC, Jon Streeter of Keker & Van Nest, Alec Chang of Skadden Arps, Nancy Fineman of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, Gretchen Nelson of Kreindler & Kreindler, Gwen Moore of Gems Communication, public member Jeannine English, Craig Holden of Lewis Brisbois, Samson Elsbernd, Karen Goodman, Loren Kieve, Pearl Gondrella Mann, Luis Rodriguez, Heather Linn Rosing, Lowell Carruth, public member George Davis of Davis Broadband Group, Cheryl Hicks, Patrick Kelly, Wells Lyman, Mark Shem, and public member Dennis Mangers have pressed criminal charges against the complainant on the ground that the ethics complaint relating to the case of Sara Granda v. State Bar of California, was false and malicious in violation of California Business & Professions Code 6043.5