Thursday, March 20, 2014

Ben Rich Said It Best: Developers "Worse Than Any Carpetbaggers"

Ben Rich, our former County Commission Chairman, said it best: the developers who clear-cut our trees and destroy our wetlands here in St. Johns County are "worse than any carpet-bagger."
March 4, 2014, is a date that will live in history.
By 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) sad that the Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower law protects all private sector whistleblowers who report concerns about fraud involving publicly-held companies, including lawyers and accountants. Jackie Hosang Lawson and Jonathan Zang v. FMR LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments, Supreme Court Case No. 12-3, --- U.S. --- (March 4, 2014).
University of Washington Law Professor Eric Schnapper argued the case and won a total victory.
The Supreme Court likes whistleblowers. It usually rules for them. Disclosure of wrongdoing is favored under the law.
Corporate oligarchs are all worried about where the next whistleblower case will be filed, and against whom, and for what. Perhaps it might involve some of the publicly-held companies that may have been deluding investors with plans to build some 70,000 homes in St. Johns County, which compliant, obedient St. Johns County Commissioners voted to allow under the ancien regime.
Paying bribes and making false entries in books and accounts is covered by Sarbanes-Oxley, too.
So if anyone from Toll Brothers (TOL), KB Home (KBH), Ryland (RYL), DR Horton (DRH), Pulte (PLH), Lennar (LEN) or other tree-killing, clear-cutting, uglifying cheesy home builders are involved in possible wrongdoing in St. Johns County, let the fraudfeasors beware ("caveat vendor"). Let their accountants and lawyers blow the whistle on their misdeeds.
As it says in the Book of Isaiah, "You shall know the truth, and it will set you free."

No comments: