WBCCI Board Lawsuit

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by Action

I forget how large the club is at the moment. And I believe member ship is staggered as in not every one renews at the same time. So if 200 didn't renew in next 12 months I bet there would be some grumbling. If 400 didn't renew in the next 12 months it would be a statement. If 800 didn't renew I bet it might bring down the club.

>>>>>>>>>>Action

The current membership is less than 6000. All memberships expire on January 1. Dues are due by November 1 in order to be included in the directory. A membership count at the next mid winter meeting in January, 2011 will be telling.

Bill

[Action]

A 10% drop (600) would be a big hit that would leave a mark.

A 1000 membership drop would be fatal.

>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

The now PIP said he would spend it again!

He saved the club in so doing...his words.

Does that mean kicking Leo out saved the club? If so from what?

I guess he will feel even better when the club spends 5-10 times that $29,000 as defendants.

Bob...Bob...Bob.

[RickDavis]

Strictly a hypothetical question.
If Leo had chosen to travel to Ohio for his hearing, i believe he would have been entitled to face his accuser. That means the region 6 president, John Stumpf, would also have had to travel to Ohio.. If he had not already used up his travel budget (he has) would the members have been paying for him to testify at this hearing.?? Or would he have had to reach into his own pocket to back up his complaint?

[LI Pets]

Rick the point is the club can not force anyone to Ohio.

They lack any jurisdictional power unlike a lawsuit (depending on contacts)

.

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

The now PIP said he would spend it again!

He saved the club in so doing...his words.

Does that mean kicking Leo out saved the club? If so from what?

I guess he will feel even better when the club spends 5-10 times that $29,000 as defendants.

Bob,

While we're on that subject. . . let's see. . . taking the conservative figure of five times $29,000, that would be $145,000. How is it going to cost $145,000 to defend against a lawsuit that only costs the plaintiffs $7,500? Is your lawyer doing it pro bono?

[Frank's Trailer Works]

... Nuvite F is a member in very good standing.

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

... Nuvite F is a member in very good standing.

Member of what?

[wheel interested]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

Bob,

While we're on that subject. . . let's see. . . taking the conservative figure of five times $29,000, that would be $145,000. How is it going to cost $145,000 to defend against a lawsuit that only costs the plaintiffs $7,500? Is your lawyer doing it pro bono?

Maybe he is basing the total on the IBT X-Treme spending multiplier! Much like hospital and government overcharges... Who'd have guessed they had already spent $29,000 on a few letters and a few hours stalking members across the internet??

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

Member of what?

Of the club with Mr. Byam's name in it. You are a member in good standing. If a non member asks, Bob says none of your bees wax, or something to that affect.

[LI Pets]

Originally Posted by wheel interested

Maybe he is basing the total on the IBT X-Treme spending multiplier! Much like hospital and government overcharges... Who'd have guessed they had already spent $29,000 on a few letters and a few hours stalking members across the internet??

what Carol said +1

In fact now having spent ONLY $29,000 to save the club that firm in their eyes is their dream team.

What Defend Wally's legal firm cost is not important nor will that info be disclosed herein.

But typically federal cases costs Defendants more than Plaintiffs especially considering they will have to retain a firm here in NY.

Then what usually happens is they will bounce everything back to the Ohio team at $400 an hour because they know them for a long period of time just to confirm or get a second opinion on their NY lawyer actions/opinions.

So at $800 an hour they can save the club again from those mean plaintiff's.

[LI Pets]

Originally Posted by 65GT

They can't hep it -- they were born with membership funds in their pockets!

__

They spend money like "Trust fund babies" and who ever they hire can sense it and bills them accordingly.

Said another way they set themselves up to get ripped off be it forums, ad agency's, event contracts etc.

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

They spend money like "Trust fund babies" and who ever they hire can sense it and bills them accordingly.

Said another way they set themselves up to get ripped off be it forums, ad agency's, event contracts etc.

They are like politicians, it's real easy to spend money when it comes out of somebody else's pocket.

Cheers, Dan

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

what Carol said +1

In fact now having spent ONLY $29,000 to save the club that firm in their eyes is their dream team.

What Defend Wally's legal firm cost is not important nor will that info be disclosed herein.

But typically federal cases costs Defendants more than Plaintiffs especially considering they will have to retain a firm here in NY.

Then what usually happens is they will bounce everything back to the Ohio team at $400 an hour because they know them for a long period of time just to confirm or get a second opinion on their NY lawyer actions/opinions.

So at $800 an hour they can save the club again from those mean plaintiff's.

Or, they may have insurance that covers these fees once a lawsuit is filed, and WBCCI funds will not be depleted and thus destroy the club.

Maggie

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

Or, they may have insurance that covers these fees once a lawsuit is filed, and WBCCI funds will not be depleted and thus destroy the club.

Maggie

I imagine the defense, whether of the WBCCI or individual officers, will be covered by insurance, and that may be a good thing for both the plaintiffs and the defendants.

First, obviously, insurance will keep the case from being mooted by the bankruptcy of the WBCCI from legal expenses. There’s no gain in “destroying WBCCI in order to save it.”

Second, insurance companies are bottom line oriented and not inclined to spend any more money than they have to. My old family lawyer (since passed on) was on retainer from a large insurance company. He commented that they were a great client to have, but frustrating from the standpoint they would settle any claim, no matter how frivolous, rather than spend the money to litigate it.

It won’t take long for the insurance company to figure out that the plaintiffs have a pretty good case, and that all they’re really defending is the egos of the club’s upper echelons. Insurance companies don’t assign a very large value to egos, and will press hard for a negotiated settlement or binding arbitration. And I think unbiased arbitration would very likely result in some enormously positive changes in the way the WBCCI is run. Like eliminating the “disharmony” clause as a basis for disciplinary action, and opening up the election process.

That won’t solve the clubs problems, but it might render them less insoluble.

[LI Pets]

In Federal Court there is a requirement "Initial Disclosures" it is there that they need to state if they have or not.

[joecolao]

My understanding is that litigation insurance comes into play only after a lawsuit has been successfully defended with the defendants own cash.
Please don't hold me to this I just am not sure about this.

[Ganglin]

Originally Posted by joecolao

My understanding is that litigation insurance comes into play only after a lawsuit has been successfully defended with the defendants own cash.
Please don't hold me to this I just am not sure about this.

Presuming the WBCCI has D&O/E&O Coverage. Once the suit is filed the carrier will take over defense and the costs involved.

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by Ganglin

Presuming the WBCCI has D&O/E&O Coverage. Once the suit is filed the carrier will take over defense and the costs involved.

Thank you. That's also my understanding of lawsuit insurance.


Maggie

[jimmickle]

It appears that the threat of a lawsuit has encouraged the IBT to propose a balanced budget.

Jim