H.A. Deal, fees cost USM $457,000 - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 29, 2005

RE: H.A. Deal, fees cost USM $457,000

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Emeril wrote:

I made that suggestion last fall - I truly believe a class action suit is the way to go. I have consulted many local, state, and regional attorneys who all believe it's what we, the taxpayers, ought to do. I saw on another thread that there a couple of individual lawsuits that are about to hit the taxpayers hard as well. I know of one in particular that's going to be a major chunk of change. Adams and Reese has worked hard for SFT to play the delay game on it, but not to worry, this person has the bucks to remain in the game - and the delay game is about to come crashing in on SFT and company.

When lawyers play the delay game, they get to rack up more hours & bill more, don't they?

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Emeril wrote:

Austin Eagle, I made that suggestion last fall - I truly believe a class action suit is the way to go. I have consulted many local, state, and regional attorneys who all believe it's what we, the taxpayers, ought to do.

So if the various attorneys you consulted agreed that a class action suit would be meritorious and could be filed, who did they suggest should initiate the action? It seems that any Mississippi taxpayer would have standing to file. Hasn't the local legal eagle Kim Chaze filed class action suits in other matters concerning USM? Who would file, and how would one would start the ball rolling? One possibility would be a group of irate USM alumni, but I haven't seen much evidence that such a group exists.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Austin Eagle wrote:

Who would file, and how would one would start the ball rolling? One possibility would be a group of irate USM alumni, but I haven't seen much evidence that such a group exists.

USM alumni should not be irate. They should be appreciative. As a parent of a USM graduate, I would also be appreciative. I feel as though many of my hard earned investment dollars have been dumped in a trash bin through USM's tarnished reputation. The faculty is not the only group that has an interest in this matter. Alumni and their parents have been touched by this also.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

this issue of lawsuits comes back like a bad cold. was addressed in a thread several months ago. you can't file a state class action in MS. (it's one of 3 states that don't allow them). file one in federal court but you have to have a claim that is appropriate for federal court.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

The only thing keeping Shelby from spinning this into "those nay-sayers Stinger & Glamser cost the State of Mississippi $457,000" is the terms of the settlement. However, since Roy Klumb doesn't feel bound by the terms of that agreement (as he demonstrated on WLOX-TV within a week of the hearing last spring), I'm sure we can count on him to suggest something along those lines.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote:

this issue of lawsuits comes back like a bad cold. was addressed in a thread several months ago. you can't file a state class action in MS. (it's one of 3 states that don't allow them). file one in federal court but you have to have a claim that is appropriate for federal court.

Is RICO appropriate for federal court?

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Invictus wrote:

Is RICO appropriate for federal court?

RICO is a federal statute, therefore one has to go to federal court to use it. Thankfully things aren't that bad here. I don't think USM would fit the bill as a "Racketeering influenced, corrupt organization"

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Not to my kid, you don't wrote:

USM alumni should not be irate. They should be appreciative. As a parent of a USM graduate, I would also be appreciative. I feel as though many of my hard earned investment dollars have been dumped in a trash bin through USM's tarnished reputation. The faculty is not the only group that has an interest in this matter. Alumni and their parents have been touched by this also.

AE, I misread your use of the term "irate." You darn right alumni should be irrate.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Not to my kid, you don't wrote:

AE, I misread your use of the term "irate." You darn right alumni should be irrate.

No problem. We're on the same page. I'm confused by the advice offered "Emeril" by attorneys who endorsed or encouraged a class action suit. Perhaps they were out-of-state attorneys unfamiliar with Mississippi law? According to information posted by SCM, class actions aren't an option in Mississippi and no possibility of a federal action exists without a federal issue. Are Mississippi taxpayers and USM just SOL with respect to any relief via the court system? Surely there must be some consequence to misfeasance by a public employee? This matter seems ripe for some legal remedy. Where's Clarence Darrow when we really need him? Maybe Dershowitz? Pro bono of course...

AE

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Maybe the BIDNESS community and car dealers can take up a collection to foot this bill.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

the clarion ledger reported this morning that the president of Holmes CC has been accused of embezzlement. spent CC money on dog food and veterinary care (not for himself or his wife of course).

Date: Jun 29, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote:

the clarion ledger reported this morning that the president of Holmes CC has been accused of embezzlement. spent CC money on dog food and veterinary care (not for himself or his wife of course).

Is that all he did? That's child's play compared to our guy. Who caught him, and how? Would it be possible to turn the same sleuth loose on the Thames books?

AE

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Austin Eagle wrote:

I'm confused by the advice offered "Emeril" by attorneys who endorsed or encouraged a class action suit. Perhaps they were out-of-state attorneys unfamiliar with Mississippi law? According to information posted by SCM, class actions aren't an option in Mississippi and no possibility of a federal action exists without a federal issue. Are Mississippi taxpayers and USM just SOL with respect to any relief via the court system? Surely there must be some consequence to misfeasance by a public employee? This matter seems ripe for some legal remedy. Where's Clarence Darrow when we really need him? Maybe Dershowitz? Pro bono of course... AE

Where's ram today? He'd be able to provide an expert opinion on legal recourse for taxpayers.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Austin Eagle wrote:

stinky cheese man wrote: the clarion ledger reported this morning that the president of Holmes CC has been accused of embezzlement. spent CC money on dog food and veterinary care (not for himself or his wife of course).

Is that all he did? That's child's play compared to our guy. Who caught him, and how? Would it be possible to turn the same sleuth loose on the Thames books? AE

According to the CL account he was nailed following an investigation by the state auditor's office, which had been requested by the college board of trustees. There are six counts of embezzlement, which were generally described as "improper use of his authority as president." Minimum of 1 year in the slammer for each charge if convicted, maximum of 20 years each.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Invictus wrote:

The only thing keeping Shelby from spinning this into "those nay-sayers Stinger & Glamser cost the State of Mississippi $457,000" is the terms of the settlement. However, since Roy Klumb doesn't feel bound by the terms of that agreement (as he demonstrated on WLOX-TV within a week of the hearing last spring), I'm sure we can count on him to suggest something along those lines.

Invictus,

If Klumb really thought that the average Mississippian would believe that Frank Glamser and Gary Stringer cost the taxpayers $457K, why did he keep the $107K in legal fees from being announced for nearly 9 months? Wouldn't he have announced the entire cost of the settlement back in August 2004, if he is so confident that no one would blame him and his guy Thames for pi$$ing the money away?

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Sam Spade wrote:

Austin Eagle wrote: stinky cheese man wrote: the clarion ledger reported this morning that the president of Holmes CC has been accused of embezzlement. spent CC money on dog food and veterinary care (not for himself or his wife of course). Is that all he did? That's child's play compared to our guy. Who caught him, and how? Would it be possible to turn the same sleuth loose on the Thames books? AE According to the CL account he was nailed following an investigation by the state auditor's office, which had been requested by the college board of trustees. There are six counts of embezzlement, which were generally described as "improper use of his authority as president." Minimum of 1 year in the slammer for each charge if convicted, maximum of 20 years each.

I wonder how Shelby would look in a bright orange jump suit. (I'm guessing he would look like a large orange.)

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Prison garb wrote:

Sam Spade wrote: Austin Eagle wrote: stinky cheese man wrote: the clarion ledger reported this morning that the president of Holmes CC has been accused of embezzlement. spent CC money on dog food and veterinary care (not for himself or his wife of course). Is that all he did? That's child's play compared to our guy. Who caught him, and how? Would it be possible to turn the same sleuth loose on the Thames books? AE According to the CL account he was nailed following an investigation by the state auditor's office, which had been requested by the college board of trustees. There are six counts of embezzlement, which were generally described as "improper use of his authority as president." Minimum of 1 year in the slammer for each charge if convicted, maximum of 20 years each.

I wonder how Shelby would look in a bright orange jump suit. (I'm guessing he would look like a large orange.)

I think he'd look like an over-ripe Georgia peach with brown splotches. BTW, how could we get the state auditor's office interested in investigatin' ole Shebby?

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Parchman Pete wrote:

I wonder how Shelby would look in a bright orange jump suit. (I'm guessing he would look like a large orange.) I think he'd look like an over-ripe Georgia peach with brown splotches. BTW, how could we get the state auditor's office interested in investigatin' ole Shebby?

1. Perhaps the dome's resident interior designer/fashionista should research the current trends in cell decor/prison attire. If inmates have an option, my guess is she would push for the cell to be painted with good ol' American Pride paint and she would make a case for the infamous Persian rug to be the focal point of the decor. As far as prison attire, I feel sure she would steer Shelby away from horizontal stripes, as those tend to make one look shorter and larger.

2. There is a perception that state auditor Phil Bryant (a USM grad) and Shelby are thisclose. If true, Bryant will be hesitant to give the green light to any investigation. On the other hand, Bryant's name has been mentioned in political circles as a possible candidate for governor...

Date: Jun 29, 2005

The attorney to file it is indeed Kim Chaze, and he's ready to meet with any people interested in pursuing it. He saw the "light" early last fall when he gained several new USM clients. The MS taxpayers have been literally screwed, the sum of money given to Adams and Reese on that ONE CASE is merely a drop in the bucket compared to some of the cases that are happening now. Why do I know that Chaze will discuss this? I'm a friend of his. Be ready for some other major hitting financial bombshells that USM does not want you to know about. It's possible that some of his current lawsuits would join in with a class action suit. Most of his lawsuits with USM are really about being ethical, and none of them are triggered by any get rich slowly scheme.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

BTW, it would become a federal issue almost immediately. Nobody in MS will want to touch it - as soon as it is filed, I'd bet that it'd be less than a month before it hit the Federal Courts.

P.S.

I know a lot about MS law and Federal Law. Somebody please contact Kim Chaze.

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Emeril wrote:

Somebody please contact Kim Chaze.

What class or group of people would constitute the complainants? Current faculty? Current students? Former faculty? Alumni? Parents of current or former students? Joe and Jane Taxpayer? Other?

Date: Jun 29, 2005

Question wrote:

Emeril wrote: Somebody please contact Kim Chaze. What class or group of people would constitute the complainants? Current faculty? Current students? Former faculty? Alumni? Parents of current or former students? Joe and Jane Taxpayer? Other?

Decent people everywhere.