When St. Johns County Attorney Patrick Francis McCormack retired, St. Johns County did not hire a qualified person as the next County Attorney.
One qualified person applied and was interviewed -- Wm. Tom McFarland, who was elected four times as the County Attorney for Roane County Tennessee. Mr. McFarland was rejected by vote of 5-0, video here, with then-Commissioner JEREMIAH RAY BLOCKER saying there were "cultural differences" and that Mr. McFarland did not have "St. Johns County experience." In 2022, voters in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Tennessee elected Mr. McFarland as their Chancellor (Chancery Court Judge).
Instead of hiring an experienced County Attorney, our all Republican County Commissioners voted 5-0 to hire DAVID MICHAEL MIGUT, a former Assistant County Attorney, who has proven incompetent and maladroit. He hardly ever speaks in County Commission meetings, resulting in unforced errors. Most notably, the County Attorney fumbled the swearing-in of new Commissioner Krista Keating-Joseph, falsely telling her the wrong date for her term to begin, the result of a lack of basic legal research. (Kudos to County Supervisor of Elections Victoria Oakes, who set them straight.)
DAVID MICHAEL MIGUT's badly mismanaged County Attorney office provided no legal memo to Commissioners on the $786,785 embezzlement by former Sheriff's CFO RAYE BRUTNELL over five years. None. It hides documents.
It is engaged in massive resistance to Open Records laws In the case of the County's lawsuit against its former auditor, CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM, assigning outside counsel, who recommended settlement.
There was no recovery of accounting or legal fees, no suspension and debarment of the accounting firm, and a measly $325,000 settlement, which Commissioners approved on July 18, 2023. The case is settled and closed.
But to this date, County Attorney DAVID MICHAEL MIGUT has lied to me and said the St. Johns County v. Carr, Riggs & Ingram case is still pending, and it has failed and refused to provide a copy of the Shade Meeting transcript. Wonder why?
Perhaps this spoiled brat government attorney should resign or be fired.
See below:
Good morning Mr. Slavin,
We received your initial request on July 18, 2023 and a response was provided to you on July 18, 2023 (see attached). At the time of your request the case was not completed, so we provided you with the following exemption: in accordance with Section 286.011(8), F.S., the transcript shall be made part of the public record upon conclusion of the litigation. To date, the litigation has not concluded. Accordingly, the requested transcript is exempt from disclosure pursuant to Section 119.071(1)(d), F.S.
If you have any further requests, please let me know.
Respectfully,
Betty Dixon, RMLO, FCRM Legal Services Specialist Office of County Attorney St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Street Address, St. Augustine FL 32084 904-209-0817 | www.sjcfl.us
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From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 7:21 AM
To: Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>; Joy Andrews <jqandrews@sjcfl.us>; Brad Bradley <bbradley@sjcfl.us>; Christine Valliere <cvalliere@sjcfl.us>; dmigut@sjfcl.us; Lex Taylor III <ltaylor@sjcfl.us>; SJC Public Affairs <sjcpublicaffairs@sjcfl.us>; Jesse Dunn <jdunn@sjcfl.us>; Kealey West <kwest@sjcfl.us>; Jalisa Ferguson <jferguson@sjcfl.us>
Cc: David Migut <dmigut@sjcfl.us>; Bradley Bulthuis <bbulthuis@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Henry Dean <bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst <bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Sarah Arnold <bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Krista Joseph <bcc4kjoseph@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Roy Alaimo <bcc3ralaimo@sjcfl.us>; Grant Robert (CMG-JacksonvilleTV) <rgrant@actionnewsjax.com>; sheltonhull@gmail.com; jmp@floridajustice.com; Anne Schindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; jessicaclark@firstcoastnews.com; bbecker@actionnewsjax.com; Angela D. Middleton <angela.d.middleton@hud.gov>; Curtis L. Barnes <curtis.l.barnes@hud.gov>; James Berrocal <james.berrocal@hud.gov>; waltbog@nytimes.com
Subject: Re: Request No. 2023-39: Shade meeting transcript re: Settlement of Professional Liability Lawsuit against Carr, Riggs & Ingram
Good morning:
1. This case alleging malpractice by the County's former auditor was settled under questionable circumstances -- a mere $325,000 when the embezzlement totaled $785,786 over five years. The County was not made whole, its accounting and legal fees were not reimbursed, and the malfeasangt former auditor is apparently free to bid on County work in the future. Why?
2. I objected to the weak settlement terms.
3. No legal research memo was ever provided to Commissioners. Why?
4. The case is now closed.
5. Would you please be so kind as to explain to me this morning St. Johns County's delay in providing the Shade Meeting transcript long after the case was officially closed, and after at least one Commissioner inquired about it?
6. St. Johns County's pattern and practice of long delays on a number of my records requests appears to be disrespectful, retaliatory, invidiously discriminatory and obfuscatory.
7. Please send me the PDF of the Carr, Riggs & Ingram Shade Meeting transcript this morning.
8. No further delays are desired or required.
9. Please call me to discuss.
10. A spirit is haunting St. Johns County -- a spirit of Jim Crow law, avoidance, evasion, animus toward protected activity and status and desuetude of legal compliance.
11. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that St. Johns County is "the most lawless" place in America.
12. Enough.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Good afternoon:
Would you please be so kind as to send me the Shade meeting transcript ASAP, or no later than Court approval of this settlement?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Good afternoon:
1. Please postpone item 8 on today's agenda (settlement) until my records request No, 2023-37 is fulfilled.
2. The tentative proposed settlement is not enough to compensate for the defendant's negligence.
3. There is no provision suspending and debarring the defendant from further government contracts.
4. We need a jury trial, not a mediocre settlement,
5, We need a refund of all fees paid to CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM.
6. Please direct counsel to take this case to trial,
7. Enough coverups.
Thank you,
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Dear Mr. Slavin,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your public records request. St. Johns County will determine if it has any records that are responsive to your request. If any such records are located, we will compile them and redact any exempt material prior to providing them to you. Per St. Johns County Administrative Code 104.6, the County may request a deposit for costs if an extensive records search takes more than fifteen (15) minutes to locate, review for exempt information, copy (if requested), and re-file the requested material. Should it be determined that the nature or volume of the public records requested requires the extensive use of information technology resources, or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, then we will first respond with an estimate of the additional charges for the actual costs incurred, and whether a deposit will be required. In such instance, the records will be compiled only after you approve the charges and the County receives any required deposit. Payment for the total or remaining costs can be made when the records are available. If the actual cost is less than your deposit, you will be refunded the balance. If you fail to provide the cost deposit within thirty (30) days, your request will be closed.
Respectfully,
Betty Dixon, RMLO, FCRM Legal Services Specialist Office of County Attorney St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Street Address, St. Augustine FL 32084 904-209-0817 | www.sjcfl.us
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From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 4:58 PM
To: David Migut <dmigut@sjcfl.us>; Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Henry Dean <bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst <bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Sarah Arnold <bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Krista Joseph <bcc4kjoseph@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Roy Alaimo <bcc3ralaimo@sjcfl.us>; SJC Public Affairs <sjcpublicaffairs@sjcfl.us>; Christine Valliere <cvalliere@sjcfl.us>; Lex Taylor III <ltaylor@sjcfl.us>; Joy Andrews <jqandrews@sjcfl.us>; Bradley Bulthuis <bbulthuis@sjcfl.us>; Brad Bradley <bbradley@sjcfl.us>
Cc: sheltonhull@gmail.com; John Dunbar <jdunbar@gannett.com>; Grant Robert (CMG-JacksonvilleTV) <rgrant@actionnewsjax.com>; jessicaclark@firstcoastnews.com; Anne Schindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; waltbog@nytimes.com; Robert Hardwick <sheriff@sjso.org>
Subject: Re: Request No. 2023-37: Proposed County $325,000 Settlement of Professional Liability Lawsuit against Carr, Riggs & Ingram
Good afternoon:
Would you please be so kind as to send me In PDF format the documents containing the legal analysis, if any exists, arguing or suggesting St. Johns County should settle with Carr, RIggs, & Ingram for only $325,000 for this malfeasant auditor's failure to find nearly $800,000 embezzlement in the Sheriff's Department?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Dear Mr. Slavin,
I acknowledge receipt of your public records request. In accordance with Section 286.011(8), F.S., the transcript shall be made part of the public record upon conclusion of the litigation. To date, the litigation has not concluded. Accordingly, the requested transcript is exempt from disclosure pursuant to Section 119.071(1)(d), F.S.
Respectfully,
Betty Dixon, RMLO, FCRM Legal Services Specialist Office of County Attorney St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Street Address, St. Augustine FL 32084 904-209-0817 | www.sjcfl.us
|
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:41 PM
To: Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>; Joy Andrews <jqandrews@sjcfl.us>; Brad Bradley <bbradley@sjcfl.us>; Christine Valliere <cvalliere@sjcfl.us>
Cc: David Migut <dmigut@sjcfl.us>; Bradley Bulthuis <bbulthuis@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Henry Dean <bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst <bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Sarah Arnold <bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Krista Joseph <bcc4kjoseph@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Roy Alaimo <bcc3ralaimo@sjcfl.us>; Grant Robert (CMG-JacksonvilleTV) <rgrant@actionnewsjax.com>; sheltonhull@gmail.com; jmp@floridajustice.com; Anne Schindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; jessicaclark@firstcoastnews.com; bbecker@actionnewsjax.com; waltbog@nytimes.com
Subject: Re: Request No. 2023-39: Shade meeting transcript re: Settlement of Professional Liability Lawsuit against Carr, Riggs & Ingram
Good afternoon:
Would you please be so kind as to send me the Shade meeting transcript ASAP, or no later than Court approval of this settlement?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 02:06:31 PM EDT, Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com> wrote:
Good afternoon:
1. Please postpone item 8 on today's agenda (settlement) until my records request No, 2023-37 is fulfilled.
2. The tentative proposed settlement is not enough to compensate for the defendant's negligence.
3. There is no provision suspending and debarring the defendant from further government contracts.
4. We need a jury trial, not a mediocre settlement,
5, We need a refund of all fees paid to CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM.
6. Please direct counsel to take this case to trial,
7. Enough coverups.
Thank you,
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
On Thursday, July 13, 2023, 07:56:28 AM EDT, Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us> wrote:
Dear Mr. Slavin,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your public records request. St. Johns County will determine if it has any records that are responsive to your request. If any such records are located, we will compile them and redact any exempt material prior to providing them to you. Per St. Johns County Administrative Code 104.6, the County may request a deposit for costs if an extensive records search takes more than fifteen (15) minutes to locate, review for exempt information, copy (if requested), and re-file the requested material. Should it be determined that the nature or volume of the public records requested requires the extensive use of information technology resources, or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, then we will first respond with an estimate of the additional charges for the actual costs incurred, and whether a deposit will be required. In such instance, the records will be compiled only after you approve the charges and the County receives any required deposit. Payment for the total or remaining costs can be made when the records are available. If the actual cost is less than your deposit, you will be refunded the balance. If you fail to provide the cost deposit within thirty (30) days, your request will be closed.
Respectfully,
Betty Dixon, RMLO, FCRM Legal Services Specialist Office of County Attorney St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Street Address, St. Augustine FL 32084 904-209-0817 | www.sjcfl.us
|
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 4:58 PM
To: David Migut <dmigut@sjcfl.us>; Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Henry Dean <bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst <bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Sarah Arnold <bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Krista Joseph <bcc4kjoseph@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Roy Alaimo <bcc3ralaimo@sjcfl.us>; SJC Public Affairs <sjcpublicaffairs@sjcfl.us>; Christine Valliere <cvalliere@sjcfl.us>; Lex Taylor III <ltaylor@sjcfl.us>; Joy Andrews <jqandrews@sjcfl.us>; Bradley Bulthuis <bbulthuis@sjcfl.us>; Brad Bradley <bbradley@sjcfl.us>
Cc: sheltonhull@gmail.com; John Dunbar <jdunbar@gannett.com>; Grant Robert (CMG-JacksonvilleTV) <rgrant@actionnewsjax.com>; jessicaclark@firstcoastnews.com; Anne Schindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; waltbog@nytimes.com; Robert Hardwick <sheriff@sjso.org>
Subject: Re: Request No. 2023-37: Proposed County $325,000 Settlement of Professional Liability Lawsuit against Carr, Riggs & Ingram
Good afternoon:
Would you please be so kind as to send me In PDF format the documents containing the legal analysis, if any exists, arguing or suggesting St. Johns County should settle with Carr, RIggs, & Ingram for only $325,000 for this malfeasant auditor's failure to find nearly $800,000 embezzlement in the Sheriff's Department?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
Dear Mr. Slavin,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your public records request. St. Johns County will determine if it has any records that are responsive to your request. If any such records are located, we will compile them and redact any exempt material prior to providing them to you. Per St. Johns County Administrative Code 104.6, the County may request a deposit for costs if an extensive records search takes more than fifteen (15) minutes to locate, review for exempt information, copy (if requested), and re-file the requested material. Should it be determined that the nature or volume of the public records requested requires the extensive use of information technology resources, or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, then we will first respond with an estimate of the additional charges for the actual costs incurred, and whether a deposit will be required. In such instance, the records will be compiled only after you approve the charges and the County receives any required deposit. Payment for the total or remaining costs can be made when the records are available. If the actual cost is less than your deposit, you will be refunded the balance. If you fail to provide the cost deposit within thirty (30) days, your request will be closed.
Respectfully,
Betty Dixon, RMLO, FCRM Legal Services Specialist Office of County Attorney St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Street Address, St. Augustine FL 32084 904-209-0817 | www.sjcfl.us
|
From: Ed Slavin <easlavin@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 4:58 PM
To: David Migut <dmigut@sjcfl.us>; Betty Dixon <bdixon@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Henry Dean <bcc5hdean@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst <bcc1cwhitehurst@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Sarah Arnold <bcc2sarnold@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Krista Joseph <bcc4kjoseph@sjcfl.us>; Commissioner Roy Alaimo <bcc3ralaimo@sjcfl.us>; SJC Public Affairs <sjcpublicaffairs@sjcfl.us>; Christine Valliere <cvalliere@sjcfl.us>; Lex Taylor III <ltaylor@sjcfl.us>; Joy Andrews <jqandrews@sjcfl.us>; Bradley Bulthuis <bbulthuis@sjcfl.us>; Brad Bradley <bbradley@sjcfl.us>
Cc: sheltonhull@gmail.com; John Dunbar <jdunbar@gannett.com>; Grant Robert (CMG-JacksonvilleTV) <rgrant@actionnewsjax.com>; jessicaclark@firstcoastnews.com; Anne Schindler <aschindler@firstcoastnews.com>; waltbog@nytimes.com; Robert Hardwick <sheriff@sjso.org>
Subject: Re: Request No. 2023-37: Proposed County $325,000 Settlement of Professional Liability Lawsuit against Carr, Riggs & Ingram
Good afternoon:
Would you please be so kind as to send me In PDF format the documents containing the legal analysis, if any exists, arguing or suggesting St. Johns County should settle with Carr, RIggs, & Ingram for only $325,000 for this malfeasant auditor's failure to find nearly $800,000 embezzlement in the Sheriff's Department?
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
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