The Observation Deck

Butler's Assertion of Summers' attorney-client privilege with CCF Attorney Michael Meehan pretty much sums up:

1. Layers of Conflicts of Interest in the Hospital Scandal.
2. Using an ex-officio role on LHA to conceal public records.
3. A complete lack of transparency in government actions.
4. Backroom dealings.

From: "Butler, Kevin" <Kevin.Butler@lakewoodoh.net>
To: 'Brian Essi'
Cc: "Petrus, Jeannine" <Jeannine.Petrus@lakewoodoh.net>; "Strachan, Shannon" <Shannon.Strachan@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 3:45 PM
Subject: RE: Public Records Requests --PRR1 to PRR 173

Mr. Essi:

In No. 30 of your March 15, 2016 public records request, you ask for “All correspondence and communications – electronic or otherwise – between or among Mayor Summers and Meehan.”

Because your request seeks all records with no date restriction, it is overbroad and thus denied. State ex rel. Glasgow v. Jones, 119 Ohio St.3d 391, 2008-Ohio-4788 (a request for all of a state representative’s work-related emails, texts, messages and correspondence for a six-month period was overbroad). Furthermore, because Mr. Meehan served as counsel to LHA and the Mayor served on the board of LHA, such communications, to the extent this request can be clarified, may be protected by the attorney-client privilege and thus would be denied. Records of communications between attorneys and their clients pertaining to the attorneys’ legal advice are excepted from disclosure under R.C. 149.43(A)(1) since the release of these records is prohibited by state law. See Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Med. Ctr. (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 638, 660, 635 N.E.2d 331, 349; Woodman v. Lakewood (1988), 44 Ohio App.3d 118, 541 N.E.2d 1084; State ex rel. Natl. Broadcasting Co. v. Cleveland (1992), 82 Ohio App.3d 202, 611 N.E.2d 838.

This completes our response to No. 30 of your March 15, 2016 public records request.

Best wishes,

Kevin M. Butler, Director of Law
City of Lakewood | Law Department
(216) 529-6034
kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net

Requested in March, response in July?

Four months to respond?

While this is a great find, I don't necessarily believe that Summers was "taken advantage of" or "led on" by the clinic. I am pretty sure Summers, council, and the rest of his "company" knew exactly what they were doing from the very early stages of this game.

If Summers is not friends with the clinic, why does almost every contract the city gives appear to go to a contractor affiliated with the clinic?

If he felt he was being taken advantage of, why did he allow the plan to continue? All he had to do was be a big boy and file a lawsuit like Madeline Cain did.

I think it's a case of:

Let's not be so focused on the Summers-CCF connection that we neglect to look at the third group of players in this fiasco: the potential developers of the hospital property, ie, Build Lakewood.

I don't really think the majority of BuildLakewood people even have an in-depth knowledge as to what will be built. I think the majority of the BuildLakewood people support BuildLakewood because of their loyalty to King Summers. Think about who the majority of BuildLakewood people are. Most of them are city employees or longtime friends of Summers.

This goes much deeper than just BuildLakewood. I still believe it is time to stop lying to ourselves that Summers was coerced by the clinic. I believe that plenty of evidence has been posted that he was one of the main instigators. There is really no excuse for him. Bottom line: Lord Lakewood = failure.

Finally, is it possible that the CCF-controlled Forest City Real Estate will have a hand in the development? They are already controlling the Rockport Square development (that construction site is still unsafe).

Build Lakewood was a city hall and CCF invented fiction.

First, they had a dozen or so people sign a flimsy letter last summer.

Then city hall launched a faux website and put 20 or so names on it.

Then city hall and CCF directed $50k of public charity money to their PAC of Lies--and only a dozen or so of the faithful sprinkled in nominal amounts to make it look like there was more to it than the faux "movement" they fabricated.

Build Lakewood no longer exists because the fraud had been exposed--they have moved on.

The fakes have created another phony PAC and will likely launch another Campaign of Lies very soon.

Nobody named as a supporter of "Build Lakewood" will ever "build" anything--ever!

All of the named BLers--including Jay Carson are pawns on the chess board.

Brian Essi wrote:Build Lakewood was a city hall and CCF invented fiction.

First, they had a dozen or so people sign a flimsy letter last summer.

Then city hall launched a faux website and put 20 or so names on it.

Then city hall and CCF directed $50k of public charity money to their PAC of Lies--and only a dozen or so of the faithful sprinkled in nominal amounts to make it look like there was more to it than the faux "movement" they fabricated.

Build Lakewood no longer exists because the fraud had been exposed--they have moved on.

The fakes have created another phony PAC and will likely launch another Campaign of Lies very soon.

Nobody named as a supporter of "Build Lakewood" will ever "build" anything--ever!

All of the named BLers--including Jay Carson are pawns on the chess board.

Bump. With a quibble. You're being more than generous Mr. Essi when you relegate the likes of Beebe, Kenny, Carson, David Stein, Honest Dru, to merely pawns in the Game. They are much more than that. In their avarice pursuit, they are committed accomplices in the destruction of Lakewood Hospital.

m buckley wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:Build Lakewood was a city hall and CCF invented fiction.
* First, they had a dozen or so people sign a flimsy letter last summer.
* Then city hall launched a faux website and put 20 or so names on it.
* Then city hall and CCF directed $50k of public charity money to their PAC of Lies--and only a dozen or so of the faithful sprinkled in nominal amounts to make it look like there was more to it than the faux "movement" they fabricated.
* Build Lakewood no longer exists because the fraud had been exposed--they have moved on.
* The fakes have created another phony PAC and will likely launch another Campaign of Lies very soon.
* Nobody named as a supporter of "Build Lakewood" will ever "build" anything--ever!
* All of the named BLers--including Jay Carson are pawns on the chess board.

Bump. With a quibble. You're being more than generous Mr. Essi when you relegate the likes of Beebe, Kenny, Carson, David Stein, Honest Dru, to merely pawns in the Game. They are much more than that. In their avarice pursuit, they are committed accomplices in the destruction of Lakewood Hospital.

OK...but what is their motivation? What do they get out of this?

I'm pretty sure they will build a rec or "wreck" center. It will probably have at least one full-service bar!

cmager wrote:

m buckley wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:Build Lakewood was a city hall and CCF invented fiction.
* First, they had a dozen or so people sign a flimsy letter last summer.
* Then city hall launched a faux website and put 20 or so names on it.
* Then city hall and CCF directed $50k of public charity money to their PAC of Lies--and only a dozen or so of the faithful sprinkled in nominal amounts to make it look like there was more to it than the faux "movement" they fabricated.
* Build Lakewood no longer exists because the fraud had been exposed--they have moved on.
* The fakes have created another phony PAC and will likely launch another Campaign of Lies very soon.
* Nobody named as a supporter of "Build Lakewood" will ever "build" anything--ever!
* All of the named BLers--including Jay Carson are pawns on the chess board.

Bump. With a quibble. You're being more than generous Mr. Essi when you relegate the likes of Beebe, Kenny, Carson, David Stein, Honest Dru, to merely pawns in the Game. They are much more than that. In their avarice pursuit, they are committed accomplices in the destruction of Lakewood Hospital.

OK...but what is their motivation? What do they get out of this?

Messrs Buckley and Mager,

Let me clarify. I agree that lower and mid level functionaries are highly motivated and active participants. I'm just suggesting that when the time comes to divide the bounty, some of the lower level bad actors will find that they were cut out or those ill gotten gains.

For example, the Cotton and Plantation owner's business may never actually benefit and he might not get the landscaping contract. I guess we can quibble whether he's a pawn a rook or a bishop, but he is expendable later in the game.

Also, if it turns out Jay Carson's law firm has been promised LHA or other money to fabricate a lawsuit, they may never get it or their full hourly rate once they are no longer needed.