NWTF Legal Expenses

For thirty years through its fiscal year ending August 31, 2007, Rob Keck and his managers conducted the affairs of the NWTF with very minimal legal expense.  The few legal matters that arose were, in large measure, handled by Attorney James C. Cox of Hartsville, SC on a pro bono basis.

With the takeover of the NWTF occurring between October 26, 2007 and March 25 - 26, 2008 by a group of NWTF directors culminating in the firing of Carl Brown and Dick Rosenlieb and effective ouster of Rob Keck, this has changed dramatically.  In early November 2007 NWTF Chairman, Jere Peak, and then Acting President, Peggy Vallery, signed a contract with the Krisner Group committing the NWTF to a total expenditure of $161,000 over a three year period, for an employee survey and management review.  The Krisner Group is a firm in Tallahassee, FL who describes itself on its letterhead as “An Employment Law Boutique.”  This firm is not licensed to practice law in South Carolina.  The amount of money to satisfy this contract was later reduced but remained a very substantial sum.

On January 9, 2008 the NWTF Executive Committee retained as the new NWTF corporate attorney, Richard J. Morgan from the McNair Law Firm in Columbia, SC at a rate of $350 per hour.  By all appearances, the NWTF has employed his services with regularity.  He even handled the investigation and was the author of the letter recommending the termination of Carl Brown and Dick Rosenlieb.  Former NWTF Chief Operating Officer, Carl Brown, and former NWTF Senior Vice President, Dick Rosenlieb filed lawsuits against the National Wild Turkey Federation following their terminations.  These terminated NWTF managers felt that substantial wrongs had been done them and that they had no choice but to defend themselves. They are each represented by Richard A. Harpootlian, a very prominent South Carolina attorney who has an impressive record in high profile cases.

The defense of the NWTF in these lawsuits has been assigned to the law firm, Ogletree Deakins of Greenville, SC.  This is a very large, prestigious firm with offices all around the United States.  Their defense of the NWTF from these lawsuits can be expected to be very expensive.  If the cases go to trial, the cost will be massive.

Those who were NWTF directors at that point in time and tried to defend Rob Keck and his management team repeatedly warned that the NWTF would incur huge legal expenses if the group hostile to Rob and his managers continued on their course to unseat and replace the Rob Keck management group.  There is substantial concern among the NWTF membership that NWTF funds raised by their hard work as volunteers are being expended in this manner.  The money raised by NWTF volunteers should be spent for wild turkey projects, not for lawyers, legal expense and lawsuits.

LINK TO: NWTF FACES LOSSES

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