Absent from the pages of the Clarion-Ledger is any mention of the embezzlement lawsuit Downtown Jackson Partners filed against its former secretary. Linda Brune was the whistleblower who gave star reporter Jerry Mitchell the scoop in his investigative story on the spending of Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen. Mr. Allen was convicted on one count of embezzlement earlier this week. However, DJP sued the whistleblower for allegedly embezzling over $43,000 from the non-profit organization. The case has been fought up in Madison County Court yet Mr. Mitchell somehow has deemed that it should not be mentioned in any of his reporting on Downtown Jackson Partners and the trials of Benjamin Wade Allen.
DJP tried to press charges against Ms. Brune. However, a JPD detective recommended that she not be charged with embezzlement and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith made the same recommendation to a Hinds County grand jury . Earlier post and copy of investigative file. DJP sued her in Madison County since she is a resident of Ridgeland in 2014. The case languished for some time but DJP finally took action on the case last year and attempted to depose her as well as obtain a judgement against her. Ms. Brune did not appear for any proceedings and informed the court she would not do so until after Mr. Allen's trial because she said she would be testifying in his trial. Ms. Brune did not testify at Mr. Allen's trial. Mr. Smith even stated that she could not be deposed since she was a prosecution witness in a letter sent to DJP's attorney, Sam Belgey, last June. Earlier post with copy of letter.
Judge Will Longwitz issued a default judgment against the defendant and ordered her arrest. However, he lost his seat in November to attorney Staci O'Neal and she assumed the control of the case in January. She revoked the warrant and default judgment but ordered Ms. Brune to appear at a "show cause hearing" that was held yesterday in her courtroom.
Attorney Sam Begley represented Downtown Jackson Partners yesterday while Ms. Brune represented herself. Charlotte Reeves accompanied Ms. Brune to the hearing and sat next to her at the table normally reserved for attorneys. Judge O'Neal made every effort to ensure that Ms. Brune understood the proceedings and that her rights were protected. The judge ruled that Ms. Brune would participate in a deposition that would be held in the library after the hearing. Judge O'Neal warned Mr. Begley against taking "advantage of a pro-se defendant." Judge O'Neal said she wanted to set a trial date after discovery took place. The court allowed Ms. Reeves to accompany Ms. Brune at the deposition but barred her actual participation.
Ms. Brune at times claimed her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination but then would waive those rights only to claim them again. She complained about the presence of JJ's video camera in the courtroom but the court informed her that a proper camera coverage request was filed and honored under the law (19:24). Ms. Brune filed a motion to dismiss but the court ruled that it would not be heard yesterday since the plaintiffs had not yet a chance to file a response. Judge O'Neal said she would set a trial date after she heard the motion to dismiss on March 8 at 1:00 PM. No media was present at the hearing nor has this case been mentioned in the media.
Kingfish note: One must ask why the media is not covering this lawsuit. One can think Mr. Allen is indeed guilty of the ten counts mentioned in his indictment but the story of DJP suing a former secretary for embezzling a large sum of money is still worthy of coverage. The two stories are not mutually exclusive. Ms. Brune may be innocent or she may be guilty. That question should be resolved by the judicial process. However, it is rather interesting to watch the media pursue one story while ignoring the other. One can only ask why this is so. Original post with copy of lawsuit.
35 comments:
Come on KF, you know why, I know why, we all know why. Jerry is not a reporter. He is a commentator. His "stories" are commentary on society and his views on right and wrong. He is a perfect example of the modern journalist (liberal or conservative), more interested in "clicks" or "views" than facts. Commentary sells. Facts are boring and will not bring readers and viewers. Just ask CNN, FOX, etc.
Typical liberal press, it does not fit the M.O. That is why the press has such little influence. They are hacks.
He is probably working on a story about the four "yuts" that are burning the their asses up in the latest edition of "Name That Thug!"
Is there any credibility left in the press?
Ms. Brune was never mentioned in the State v. Ben Allen case. Mitchell was simply covering that case every day. I don't think the paper is doing any analysis until the trials are done.
KF, if you haven't done so you need to obtain the documents which Dr. Quon submitted to the court in Allen's criminal case. Dr. Quon indicates that Ms. Brune was indeed his patient in 2009 and that she used a Downtown Partners check to pay him. Ms. Brune has denied knowing who Dr. Quon is under oath on at least 2 occasions. Perjury and embezzlement.
Is Linda Brune an Ole' Miss fan? You know how the ledger and their boy Hugh Flounder Kellenburger is with Ole' Miss fans. They just miss the bad stuff. Probably what is going on here too.
This lady seems to need a lawyer, what gives?
11:44. If true, Game. Set. Match. Over. Done.
11:44. That explains why she didn't testify in Allen's trial. Her credibility on the stand would have been crushed and made it even clearer that the charges were/are baseless.
I am pretty sure this has been reported, and that a follow-up is forth coming. Whether it's Jerry or not, he may be working on something else. Suprisre Suprisre,there are other worthy stories that deserve his time.
11:54 initially John Reeves, even though he was actually a member of the board of DJP, when she stole that $40,000.00. Apparently, he's the one that guided her through the whistleblower process.
Then she started using Dennis Sweet, though he was never listed as so.
Now, connect the dots. Who is RSS's best friend? Dennis Sweet.
She's still getting legal advise, probably from Sweet.
http://www.sweetandassociates.net/dennis.htm
Isn't Charlotte Reeves backing Boomboombalumba Jr. for Mayor? Why does his supporters keep intersecting with these DJP matters/
It appears that everyone involved with DJP is a crook. Maybe the Board of Directors should be locked up next.
I watched the whole thing. Pray for that lady.
I resigned from the Board for two reasons---I did not like the way the funds were being spent---"CRONY CAPITALISM" and Ben Allen had no clue on how to run this type organization. I like Ben but DJP needs someone experienced in turning around a city that has seen it's best days. The Board members are just as much to blame as Ben Allen for anything that went wrong---the property owners need to step in and replace everyone---go hire everyone that works for the Chattanooga or Little Rock equivalent.
YOU NEED TO HURRY BECAUSE THERE MAY BE NOTHING LEFT TO SALVAGE !!!!!
Jerry Mitchell is not being paid, like those of you who are trying to shoot the messenger. Ben will do anything to crush her for exposing him. If that trial had been presented properly, he would have been found guilty on all counts. A White Collar Thug!!! Lay off the lady. She did nothing!
3:04 you are getting old. IE broken record.
I thought this thread was about Jerry Mitchell and his hesitancy to cover an angle of the story....Not yet another opening for Ben Allen's son and all the other harpies to trash Brune and deflect attention from the convict.
Jerry has never let facts get in the way of a good story. That guy can tell a whopper of a story.
3:04. 3:42: 3:55. Same commenter yada yada yada. LMAO.
3:55. The "convict". Save this post. Allen's conviction will be overturned on appeal in a hot second. 2 others will be proven the convicts as all this unfolds.
Sorry but I really think Jerry Mitchell is so irresponsible on this. I know Ben. He has never called him. Ran the story with an unreliable "source" and all of this shit storm was the result. And the sand in the face is he never followed up on this. Thanks KF for pointing this out.
Having a company check pay for dental work is there or is not. Where is that check?
Time for Ben's Boy to get out of bed and start hitting this blog again with the 'Trash Brune' posts.
I don't know if Ms. Brune embezzled or if this was retaliation.
I do know that 3:04 pm was wise to resign as it's clear that DJP's management and board were incompetent or else none of this would be possible.
Good business practices would mean that any discrepancies or violations of policy regarding monies should be found in 24 hours to no more than 30 days.
Who in the hell was in charge of accounting for the money coming in and going out? Surely, it wasn't Ms.Brune or just one person! That would be ridiculous!
Did they also keep money in an unlocked drawer labeled " cash drawer"? !
This lady needs an attorney. Why doesn't she have one? She is going to get hammered.
Why are so many members of the Jackson area and Mississippi press corps obese? Why are they making bad health decisions? Can you investigate that Jerry?
This is about Ben Allen embezzling. You have spent the past few weeks trying to annihialate the one who "blew the whistle" on his crime. We are looking at Ben...no one else...he is supposed to be responnsible for the day to day operation of that bogus organization and he isn't!
Yawn.
I agree 10:13. Been to Sam's lately and observed all the terribly obese people riding around and shopping in an electric cart? That is the last thing they need.
Good Lord 4:22. Did you go to the fair? Unbelievable.
Jerry's been known to exaggerate a little bit. It's easier than putting in the legwork to gather facts. After all, C-L has been cutting costs so it helps in two ways.
7:53. Kroger. Anytime Anyday. Obese, OBESE in electric carts.
Jerry isn't touching this story until there are some facts. So far, Ben's minoions and Ben's two "fans" are the only posters on this blog defending him. DJP thieves mad as hell cause they got exposed. They will try anything to put the blame on someone else. No integrity whatsoever. I don't believe the story about LB.
Who even reads the Clarion Ledger any more?
Media covers lawsuits before they go to court or are resolved all of the time.
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