Just an Opinion by a retiree. IP: 71.180.62.28 Posted on October 16, 2009 at 06:31:48 PM by Jerry Wotherspoon
This is only one man's opinion.
I "Opted-out" knowing, that I might get nothing and I was willing to live with that choice.
A couple of reasons I opted-out.
1. I didn't know what I was opting-in to. I was NOT privy to the "lawyer/client" agreement and I doubt that many, if any, of those that stayed in the Class Action Suit actually read that agreement.
2. I was aware that Mr. Thomas had indicated he would not seek funds from the clients (police and fire retirees), but he would not put that agreement in writing.
3. I was aware of how Mr. Thomas got his research information from another lawyer (I will not mention his name) that lawyer had personal knowledge and privileged information about the 2004 13th check. At the very lease this appeared to be an ethical violation issue.
Now that I look back and see that Mr. Thomas has turned down a Quarter of a Million dollars, (an amount he had previously indicated was HIS estimate of the actual cost), I think he wants more to pay for his, un-named research source. A source that has violated an ethical code of conduct, at the very least.
It wouldn't surprise me, to find out that Mr. Thomas wants both the Pension Board and ALL the retirees to pay his, not so deserving, fees.
I look at what Mr. Thomas is doing and see only GREED, he's not satisfied with a "Quarter of a Million" dollars from our pension fund, he wants more. He wants both my "present" money and "future" money.
The pension has been good to us, it's a #### shame attorney's keep trying to screw us. We need to get back to our roots, common sense, honesty, fairness. Each attorney that has ever worked for or against our pension fund, has made more money than any firefighter or police officer that had contributed to the fund. And they have never had to put their lives on the line for it.