MiraCosta College trustees at odds; legal representation complex
August 28th, 2007http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/28/news/top_stories/1_03_548_27_07.txt
FYI / Re: Controversial $1.5 million settlement with former President Victoria Munoz Richart.
This article by NC Times staff writer, Phillip K. Ireland, states “The political Grand Canyon separating MiraCosta College trustees runs so deep and wide now that in one high-profile lawsuit against the school, the board’s majority of four is represented by one attorney, and the board minority of three is represented by another.”
Blog: Poor legal representation complicates simple issues. Three MiraCosta board members feel there is too close a relationship with district counsel and Dr. Richart and testified in a deposition that they did not feel comfortable with district counsel representation.
In the issue at MSJC regarding the Giese/Maas contract, there were “conflicting opinions” according to J.Tyler’s response to the audit. The “conflicting opinions” were not from CalSTRS or Motte’s attorney. They were from district counsel, which defended the board action without consideration of the earnings limitation. The college and Giese were both notified as early as August 2005 by CalSTRS, that he was subject to the limitation and required to report post-retirement earnings. The college and Giese followed college counsel’s opinion which was contrary to CalSTRS. The CalSTRS State audit, dated May 2007, verified Motte’s attorney’s opinion.