Judy Johnson, whom California governor Jerry Brown recently appointed to a
judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court, served as the Executive
Director of the State Bar of California.
She also secretly headed a dubious entity known as California Consumer
Protection Foundation (“CCPF”) for the past 8-9 years.
During this period, she used her “clout” as the head of the State Bar to arrange
for “cy pres” from class action settlements, as well as fines and settlements
imposed by the CPUC on utility companies, totaling close to $30 million to be
funneled to CCPF, which then forwarded those funds to various other non-profits,
and mostly questionable ACORN-like entities located in South Los Angeles — Gwen
Moore’s territory.
In 2010 Johnson left the State Bar of California in disgrace after a prolonged
embezzlement of close to $800,000 by employee Sharon Pearl was discovered, and
after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed State Bar related
legislation as a result.
Johnson was recently also the subject of a complaint to the IRS for alleged
noncompliance with various laws and regulations. The complaint alleges CCPF and
Johnson defrauded and mislead the public by intentionally omitting various data
from CCPF’s web-site. Specifically, data concerting financial transactions
between CCPF and an entity known as Consumers for Auto Reliability and
Safety (“CARS”). In addition, the complaint also point to various alleged
inconsistencies in the reporting of grants from CCPF to CARS.
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Ms. Judy Johnson, who after 2 Governors’ vetoes and endless scandals
(including financials) was ousted as executive-director of the State Bar of
California. Johnson was part of sham entity CaliforniaALL and also
secretly headed CCPF for the past 8-9 years. During this period, she used
her “clout” as the head of the agency to arrange for “cy pres” from class action
settlements, as well as fines and settlements imposed by the CPUC on utility
companies, totaling close to $30 million to be funneled to CCPF, which then
forwarded those funds to various other non-profits, and mostly questionable
ACORN-like entities located in South Los Angeles. As mentioned previously,
vexatious and strange movements of money from CCPF to Michael Shames’ UCAN
— entity presently subject of grand-jury investigation in San Diego. See
complaint against CCPF to IRS
HERE
CARS is a non-profit entity located in Sacramento, California. It was
established and is headed by Rosemary Shahan. In addition to heading her own
non-profit entity (CARS), Shahan also serves as an “adviser” to CCPF. See
http://consumerfdn.org/advisors.php
According to sources familiar with the situation, CCPF professes and declares
that it lists on its website all the grants it has issued and all the
corresponding grantees going back to 2001. When visiting CCPF’s website, one is
given the option to search by year or the name of the grantee. A search for
grants funneled to CARS yields only 2 results – a grant in 2006 in the amount of
$60,000, and another in 2009 in the amount of $7,400.
One can also visit
http://consumerfdn.org/granteesList.php for a list of all the grantees. (See
also
here.)
Each of the above search options yields the same result – to wit, only 2 grants
are listed that were made to CARS. Unfortunately, however, this allegedly
is not the case, as CCPF’s own tax returns provide otherwise. For example,
page 28 of CCPF’s IRS Form 990 for 2004 lists a $60,000 grant.
This misrepresentation is allegedly the fruit of an unlawful conspiracy between
Judy Johnson and Rosemary Shahan, and is very troubling on its face. This is
particularly true given that Ms. Shahan, who serves as an adviser to CCPF, and
presumably is familiar with the content of the website, should have alerted CCPF
that the information presented is inaccurate and false, by omission and
otherwise.
In addition, sources allege that various inconsistencies were discovered in
connection with two types of grants from CCPF to CARS: the first is the Consumer
Auto Advertising Fund (“CAAF”) grant and the second is the Bank of America
(“BA1″) grant.
-
In 2004, CARS reported to the IRS revenues from all sources in the amount of
$91,009. (See
page 28 of CARS 2004 IRS 990 return.) By comparison,
CCPF reported that it had funneled to CARS $60,000 from the CAAF grant, and
$61,215 from the BA1 grant.
-
Also in 2004, CCPF reported a leftover “payable” of $61,212 from the BA1 grant
which it holds in reserve for future payment to CARS.
-
In 2005, CARS reported to the IRS revenues from ALL SOURCES in the amount of
only $58,212. (See
CARS 2005 IRS 990 returns.)
-
By comparison, in 2005
CCPF reported funneling $60,000 to CARS out of the CAAF grant. This,
according to the sources, already raises a red flag as it shows that CARS
under-reported its revenues for 2005 by the difference of $1,788. (See
here on page 22.)
Most importantly, however, in 2005
CCPF also reported an additional $48,970 distributed to CARS from the BA1
fund, leaving only $12,242 in reserve as “payable.” (See entry on page 22.)
Unfortunately, the sources maintain, no corresponding reference to the $48,970
was found on CARS’ 2005 tax returns.
CaliforniaALL
During the period that Douglas Winthrop, Holly Fujie of Buchalter Nemer, Annette
Carnegie of Morrison & Foerster, and ex-CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey Brown
were serving as board members for the California Bar Foundation, a highly
unusual financial transaction took place in which approximately $780,000 was
quietly transferred, causing the California Bar Foundation to end the year in
the red.
Upon further examination, it was discovered that the money had been transferred
to a newly-created Section 501©(3) non-profit entity (headed by a friend of
Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue — Ruthe Catolico Ashley) known as
CaliforniaALL.
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Mr. Geoffrey Brown, professor of law at JFK School of Law. Between 2001 to
2007 served as Commissioner with the CPUC. From 2006 to 2009 Brown serve as
director with the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA “California Bar
Foundation”). In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00
to sham entity CaliforniaALL — which also obtained additional 1.5 Million from
utility companies. In reaction to complainant’s request for an inquiry to
the State Bar of California Board of Governors, Brown immediately, as though
bitten by a snake,
threatened to file legal action even though the communication with the BOG
was absolutely privileged and justified, and only made mention of Brown in
passing. Brown is still under extreme scrutiny in matters relating
Judy Johnson’s CCPF and the saga known as “Bribing
Pat.” (image:courtesy photo) Ruthe Catolico Ashley
came up with the idea to create CaliforniaALL
during a meeting with Sarah Redfield and Peter Arth, Jr. (the assistant to
CPUC President Michael Peevey).
After CaliforniaALL came into existence, Ms. Ashley, after a simulated search,
was selected to serve as CaliforniaALL’s executive director.
Redfield – a visiting professor at McGeorge School of Law and a member of the
State Bar of California Committee of Access to Justice — was chosen to serve as
the “interim executive director” for
CaliforniaALL, and later also allegedly
served as a consultant to CaliforniaALL. For her services, Ms.
Redfield was paid for the year of 2008 close to $160,000 as an “independent
contractor.” Even though CaliforniaALL was housed pro bono at the law
offices of DLA Piper in Sacramento, there is an entry on CaliforniaALL’s tax
return for close to $16,000 for “occupancy.”
Papers were filed with both state and federal agencies to allow CaliforniaALL to
operate as a tax exempt entity. Victor Miramontes listed himself as Chairman of
the Board. Serving as
CaliforniaALL’s legal counsel was Susan Mac Cormac of Morrison &
Foerster.
In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, donations to CaliforniaALL came
primarily from utility companies (including AT&T, Sempra Energy, Verizon,
and PG&E). In its brief existence from 2008 to 2010, CaliforniaALL collected
close to $2 million, including an unlawful and unusually large sub rosa
contribution of $780,000 from the State Bar of California Foundation (DBA
California Bar Foundation) in 2008.
CaliforniaALL was abruptly dissolved in July 2010.
According to Redfield’s resume, between 2008 and 2009 she had “launched”
CaliforniaALL, participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law
at U. C. Irvine.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, as most transactions involving
CaliforniaALL, the California Bar Foundation and the State Bar of California, it
is imbued with fraud and egregious acts dishonesty and deception as even
documents obtained from the Santa Ana Unified School District make no
mention of Sarah Redfield in connection with the Saturday Academy of Law
at UC Irvine.
Redfield’s resume, below, alleges she had “launched” CaliforniaALL,
participated in RFP, and “launched” the Saturday Academy of Law at U. C. Irvine.
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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.
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Specifically, the Saturday Academy of Law has been in existence for many years,
and is part of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Educational
Partnerships (CFEP), which has many programs to benefit the community, such as
“UCI Saturdays with Sciences,” “Saturday Academy in Mathematics,” and the like.
For example, as part of a field trip to law firms, the photo below was taken in
2005 when the UCISAL group visited the law offices of Sheppard Mullin.
In 2007, UCISAL paid a visit to Allen Matkins. (See below.) We have
intentionally blurred the photo to maintain the students’ privacy. Seated on the
right is Robert Hamilton. On the far right is Karina Hamilton, a former Allen
Matkins associate, wife of Robert Hamilton, and Director of UCISAL.
Please double-click on the photo for full view.
In fact, UCI’s own literature gives no credit to CaliforniaALL. (See below.)
Additionally, claims by Sarah E. Redfield to the effect that she was part of
both the CURRICULUM COMMITTEE and OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE are also false,
fraudulent, and were otherwise spun from whole cloth.
While Professor Redfield was part of the Oversight Committee, she was not part
of the Curriculum Committee. In fact, the sources maintain that close
examination of SAL Curriculum shows that it was similar to the curriculum in the
years before CaliforniaALL was even established, with emphasis on exceptions to
the First Amendment such as time, place, and manner.
See below, misleading claims by Professor Sarah E. Redfield, which falsely
mention Curriculum Committee :
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- State Bar of California Board of Governors
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Bribery and Special Interest (BRISPEC)
-
Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West)
-
California Energy Crisis
-
Thomas Girardi / Pierce O’Donnell
- Geoffrey Brown served as a Commissioner with the CPUC
- California Bar Journal
State Bar of California Board of Governors member Gwen Moore of GEM
Communications. Both Moore and her mentor — Kamala Harris’ former paramour
Willie Brown — were the target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Bribery
and Special Interest (BRISPEC) sting operation known as Shrimpscam. On the right
is Willie Brown’s “Mentee” Derek Anthony West (AKA Tony West) Previously of
Morrison & Foerster. Presently Acting Associate Attorney General, the third
highest official at the United States Department of Justice. West’s
sister-in-law — Willie Brown’s former paramour — is California attorney general
who was also part of CaliforniaALL. As previously reported, Morrison &
Foerster partners Voice of OC’s James Brosnahan (who represented El Paso Corp
during California Energy Crisis), Susan Mac Cormac, Raj Chatterjee, as well as
former partners Tony West, Annette Carnegie, Lori Schechter and Dian Grueneich
are all under extreme scrutiny by TLR/YR with respect to the unsettling events
surrounding CaliforniaALL in connection with former CPUC Commissioner Geoffrey
Brown of California Bar Foundation, State Bar of California Executive Director –
Voice of OC’s Joe Dunn – who investigated the California Energy Crisis, Voice of
OC’s Martha Escutia who also investigated the California Energy Crisis, and
Voice of OC’s Thomas Girardi / Pierce O’Donnell who litigated matters relating
to the California Energy Crisis opposing James Brosnahan (Image: courtesy
photos) To date, data collected shows that CaliforniaALL (which was
supposed to forward most of those funds) transferred between $300,000 to
$400,000 to the UCI Foundation (
where
Joe Dunn serves as trustee), spent an unknown amount to honor
Gwen Moore at a lavish dinner held at a luxury hotel in Sacramento, paid for
other incidental expenses such as salaries, and subsequent to moving out from
the offices of DLA Piper to a more modest location , paid for a UPS Store mail
box slot in Citrus Heights.
Between 2001 and 2007, Geoffrey Brown served as a Commissioner with the CPUC.
From 2006 to 2009, Brown served as a director of the State Bar of California
Foundation. In 2008, California Bar Foundation quietly transferred $769,247.00
to California . California never acknowledged receipt of the $769,247.00
from the Cal Bar Foundation in any of its publications, although it did
acknowledge the transfer on its IRS tax returns. Likewise, California Bar
Foundation never acknowledged the largest grant it ever bestowed in its
newsroom, the California Bar Journal, or similar publications; it did, however,
recognize the transfer on its IRS returns, and in a 2 by 2 inch blurb in its
annual report.
See below Cal Bar Foundation newsroom which makes no mention of the subrosa
transfer of funds.
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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:
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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:
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Serving on the board of directors of CaliforniaALL (which was in a partnership
relationship with the State Bar of California) were State Bar employee Patricia
Lee, Kamala Harris, CPUC Commissioner Timothy Simon, as well as Judy Johnson,
whom California Governor Jerry Brown — cousin of Geoffrey Brown — appointed to a
judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court. See below:
Tragic.
I know many cops that worked in Lafayette, WC, Danville, Orinda & other upper class areas-they told me all about it…the parents gave them cars at 16 & the parents were 100% into their social life & the kids did whatever they wanted..when they leave home– they continue partying, drinking & doing stupid things..Karma is a bitch– deal with it
So sad for the families.
the DRIVER of the car was 26.
I hope you know your negative attitudes about innocent kids is going to come back to you, and I hope you never have to face this tragedy with your own kids one day, because I bet you won’t too pleased when some ignorant jackass writes on a blog the way you have about these kids.
get a life douchebag.
Its a blog people….its their choice to read this.
Also- live fast, play hard….die young
Missy.. it appears you do not work the streets of WC,,,but trust me– the kids there think they are above the law & yes..cops do talk about what goes on with their friends…
For everyone in this world that says things like “everything is meant to be” is so full of bull its rediculous. ANYTHING can happen in this life. be real. dnt waste it
Officer…Missy.
I am all ready to take you seriously.
Condolences for your family. My son knew your brother and Christian and liked them both. They were good kids. Disregard all the stupid comments. Some people just have no compassion.
This is the Appeal To Authority argumentative fallacy…which basically means you claim “to know” some authority figure(s) on a particular subject, as if that somehow lends credence to what you have to say. It doesn’t. It means you’re full of shit.
Sad event. Truely I am sorry for the family and friends BUT they are very lucky their stupidity did not kill somone else. When you break the law there are consequences…why you think we have laws so things like this do not happen (if people were respectful enough to obey them). Speeding, drinking, no seat belts three strikes you’re out…sorry. I am sorry for the family really but there are always consequences to your actions.
Must be 18 years or older to gamble here
No one under 18 allowed in the gaming area
Must show a valid photo identification for entry
No alcohol served or allowed on the premises
No cameras allowed in gaming area
No audio or video equipment allowed
No firearms, drugs, or pets allowed on property
If you can buy alcohol in that casino I’ll make your car payments for one year.
You really should avoid the X.
I apologize if it seems that I’m negelecting the familes of Kevin M. (The sole survivor) and Chris (the driver whom is also deceased). I did not know them and I have not heard any updates. But my heart goes out to those families.
If anything, the parents are older and more mature and educated in the wealthy areas, not young parents “100% into their social lives”
Stop and observe the tragic loss of two kids and stop being a judgmental piece of sh*t
Despite the circumstance, these were young kids. Boys will be boys, they weren’t criminals, they made bad choice as teenagers do, and it got them killed.
You’re worse than scum on the button of my shoe. Deal with it.
It’s Krystal (Krissy) from New Hope.
I offer many thousands of condolences and prayers to you and the family right now. Find joy in the fact that Maurice knew The Lord and that he’s in a place you me and everyone else is working toward getting to. Know that one day you will see his face again and that he’s with our Heavenly Father. Love you all. See you all Thursday.
Bless you.
You are brave and strong to write here, and we all appreciate it. Because we are hurting too at the loss of young men, even if we didn’t know them personally. We know how much it hurts the families and as part of the community, we hurt with you. Anyone with a heart feels for your loss, and your family’s. Don’t waste your time with jerks like George. The people who count are here with you, even if they don’t know you, like me. My daughter knew your brother (she’s a good friend of your other brother) and what I know is that everyone who knew or has heard about this (unlike the “Georges” out there), is terribly sad. We all know at any one point in our lives it couldn’t have happened to us as teens or could happen to our teens. You are right, the non-drivers were not in control of that car. And even the driver didn’t deserve this outcome. No one does. We are all lucky to live past mistakes, only some are not as lucky who don’t. Hold onto the good memories of your brother and his friend and know they’re at peace even though this time is hard for you and your families.
George you are an ignorant bast****! What how much money or lack there of does not make it remotely ok for you to claim that is why this happened, anyone is capable of making a life changing mistake. I am sure you are no saint!. JEALOUSY is not a valid argument in disrespecting the families that lost loved ones. I pity you! My prayers go out to the families of those involed in this crash!
As for the comments about “UPPER class” areas. It’s too bad people think that way, it just divides us further. I have known nasty crooked people who are both rich and poor. There are “Upper class” people in ALL areas where we live and breath. Material wealth and geographic area have nothing to do with being classy. Attitude makes us classy.