The Observation Deck

Months after requesting it (and nearly 3 weeks into an Original Action in Mandamus), I received the attached engagement letter today.

Why did it take months for City Hall to produce this simple document that was readily accessible?

Perhaps it is because the document reveals that as early as April, 2015, Summers and Butler had decided to do the Summers deal no matter what.

So was everything that happened from January, 2015 through December, 2015, just for show?

Stay tuned...

Brian,

From what it appears, Thompson Hine's involvement may run much deeper than just Lakewood Hospital and Summers & Co.

Thompson Hine has, in the recent past, contributed to the political campaigns of Armond Budish, Ed Fitzgerald, John O'Donnell, and others I believe.

Also, see http://www.thompsonhine.com/experience/ ... nterprises

If I am reading this correctly, it appears that Thompson Hine has acted as legal counsel for Forest City Realty for over 35 years. As I have posted here before, Forest City is, in a roundabout way, run by the Cleveland Clinic. At least about half of the individuals that sit on their board of directors are members of the Ratner Family. The Ratners have had deep ties to the Cleveland Clinic for many years, and Ronald Ratner sits on Cleveland Clinic's Board of Trustees.

Also, see http://www.forestcity.net/company/peopl ... ersonID=15

Samuel H. Miller is in leadership at Forest City. According to this, Miller was made a distinguished fellow of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Also, see http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-count ... enter.html

According to this, Cuyahoga County (probably with Armond Budish's approval), hired Thompson Hine as legal counsel in determining the future of the justice center.

If Budish took campaign money from Thompson Hine, why would he turn around and give them business? I posted here a while ago regarding what appeared to be Summers pulling the same shenanigans by taking campaign money from big-wigs at CT Consultants and giving them a boatload of work to do in the city.

Once again, it would appear that it is another case of "one big, happy family":

Bump!

Since it appears that Thompson and Hine has such a large part in this whole charade, it has to make one wonder how they benefited from it all.