STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
By GEOFF PENDER
THE SUN HERALD
Monday, April 30, 2007
GULFPORT -The Sun Herald has dropped a public records lawsuit against Harrison County, and the county has dropped its countersuit against the newspaper.
Since this phase of the legal battle has come to an end, lets find out how much of the taxpayers money was spent to defend our Harrison County Supervisors.
In February, the Sun Herald sued the county in Chancery Court, contending it failed to comply with a December request for public records pertaining to the county "escrow account," a $1 million-a-year fund that supervisors say they use for unplanned expenses.
I would say that the Harrison County Supervisors have succeeded in hiding how they there spending habits of the $1 million escrow account.
The county countersued, saying it had complied with the records request, and it asked the court to issue sanctions against the newspaper for bringing a frivolous lawsuit. The county asked that the newspaper be ordered to pay the county's legal fees and court costs.
"The county asked that the newspaper be ordered to pay the county's legal fees and court costs."
Never, should the taxpayers have to pay legal fees to defend our Harrison County Supervisors.
If our five (5) Supervisors have conducted themselves in a manner with deem legal action against them, all legal fees should be paid by the supervisors themselves.
The reason in my opinion, is elected officials and state agencies workers which are voted into there positions to serve the public.
The are elected and hired to ensure the purpose of there position are conducted for the purpose of the voters and taxpayers.
If for any reason a supervisors or state agency conducts itself outside its primary duties, and incurs legal action upon themselves.
No, taxpayers funds from any account should be spent towards the defense of that elected official or state agency worker.
The agreement to drop the litigation came after the county provided The Sun Herald with escrow account computer records that county officials had previously denied existed. County officials said the newspaper was not specific enough in its original request and that they did not realize the computer spreadsheets were public records.
"County officials said the newspaper was not specific enough in its original request"
After reading all of the articles pertaining to the, request for records," is a false statement.
Since it took an ex-employee to bring forth records which showed how the supervisors did in fact have two sets of book concerning the escrow account.
Attorney Joe meadows is the tax paid (your money) paid attorney for the Harrison County Supervisors. I have email and requested a dollar amount his law firm has received to date.
E-MAILS SENT & RECEIVED
| Subj: | Re: Joe Meadows: who is paying for your services |
| Date: | 2/21/01 2:35:51 PM Central Standard Time |
| From:
jmeadows@datasync.com (Joe Meadows) To: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com |
|
-----Original Message-----
From: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com <mccaleb4thdist@aol.com>
To: jmeadows@datasync.com <jmeadows@datasync.com>
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: Joe Meadows: who is paying for your services
If
the Harrison County Board looses it's case on the Counter-Claim, then who
pays for your attorney Fee's.
Please Respond
Steven A. McCaleb
Subj: Re: Joe Meadows: who is paying for your services
Date: 2/21/01 12:01:11 PM Central
Standard Time
From: jmeadows@datasync.com (Joe Meadows)
To: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
Dear Sir:
With regard to
your inquiry as to who is paying for my services in the
litigation between the Gulf Publishing and Harrison County,
as you know,
the Board filed a Counter-Claim and has requested that Gulf
Publishing pay
all attorneys fees and cost.
This will be
determined when the litigation is presented to the Court.
Cordially
yours,
Joe
Meadows
| Subj: | Re: Joe Meadows: who is paying for your services |
| Date: | 2/21/01 12:01:11 PM Central Standard Time |
| From:
jmeadows@datasync.com (Joe Meadows) To: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com |
|
Joe Meadows:-----Original Message-----
From: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com <mccaleb4thdist@aol.com>
To: jmeadows@datasync.com <jmeadows@datasync.com>
Cc: harcobos@ametro.net <harcobos@ametro.net>; governor@govoff.state.ms.us <governor@govoff.state.ms.us>; senatorlott@lott.senate.gov <senatorlott@lott.senate.gov>; hcca@digiscape.com <hcca@digiscape.com>; llong@wlox.com <llong@wlox.com>; ltgov@mail.lbo.state.ms.us <ltgov@mail.lbo.state.ms.us>; blitton@governor.state.ms.us <blitton@governor.state.ms.us>; Jncompton@aol.com <Jncompton@aol.com>; jsimpson@mail.lbo.state.ms.us <jsimpson@mail.lbo.state.ms.us>; ahedgepe@mstc.state.ms.us <ahedgepe@mstc.state.ms.us>
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:59 AM
Subject: Joe Meadows: who is paying for your services
In his dismissal order, Chancery Judge J.N. Randall said each party will pay its own court costs and legal fees.
The way I read Chancery Judge J. N. Randall's order, the taxpayers and voters will not be paying the court cost and legal fees for the Harrison County Supervisors.
I am also sure I am wrong, that our Harrison County Supervisors will have the taxpayers and voters pay there court cost and legal fees.
I will email Attorney Joe Meadows and again request the full cost amount of court cost and legal fees paid by the taxpayers to his law firm.
I will post the results in another web page.
"I think it best serves the newspaper and the county to spend our time and money on something else than fighting our differences in court," said Larry Benefield, president of the Board of Supervisors. "The lawsuit was about something that I don't think we truly perceived to be public records."
I personally do not see how or why Larry Benefield ever got to be an elected official.
His statement: "The lawsuit was about something that I don't think we truly perceived to be public records."
When one dollar of the voters and taxpayers money is spent illegally, that is Fraud, Waste, & Abuse of taxpayers funds.
When two sets of books are keep on $1 million a year escrow funds and having to seek legal action to prove there are two sets of books, that is Fraud, Waste, & Abuse + Corruption.
Records which the voters and taxpayers pay for are public records. Not the supervisors or state agency workers, but the taxpayers.
Out elected officials and state agencies have, over the years, lost sight on this fact. I have found that an elected official or state agency will spend more time and taxpayers money stopping you from obtaining records than serving the public.
Benefield said Tuesday that he is uncertain how much money the county has spent on the litigation.
I will also email Supervisor Larry Benefield and request a total amount on the court cost and legal fees paid by the taxpayers.
Stan Tiner, executive editor of The Sun Herald, said the newspaper is pleased that the case has been dismissed.
I believe their is more information which can be found and reported on.
I would like the next breaking news too be how the, Wildlife Rehabilitation & Nature Preservation Society, Inc., Pass Christian, has shown to be a scam and political front.
This society has ties to the Secretary of State, University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Elected officials, and State Agencies.
Do to the nature of WRANPS the Sun Herald Newspaper and our local television station WLOX-13 are also involved. But, as we the know, these two companies must stay neutral on all reported stories.
"We would have preferred to receive these records in the routine conduct of business," Tiner said. "But it became necessary to pursue in court the rights to documents on how the public's money is spent. We would much prefer to do business outside the courtroom. ... We have obtained them, printed them, and I think the public is better informed about their business as a result."
Have you noticed at how the Sun Herald Newspaper has shown the corruption within our elected officials and state agencies.
But our elected officials and state agencies keep stating how they have done nothing wrong.
I find it interesting at how our elected officials and state agencies come together and protect each other.
Have you ever heard of an elected official or state agency worker admit wrong doing.
Mississippi Law is written solely for the purpose to protect itself.
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY