Dennis Ribaya Lawsuit IP: 173.168.8.68 Posted on August 29, 2015 at 10:44:04 PM by Dennis Ribaya
29 August 2015
Retirees,
As many of you may know three years ago I was wrongfully trespassed at a F&P Pension board meeting and I subsequently sued the F&P Pension Fund for violating the Sunshine law. It has been three long years, but I have just settled my case.
This Sunshine violation which resulted in a lawsuit cost the F&P Pension Fund, for their attorney fees and court reporters $173,881.62. In addition, the Pension Fund paid my attorney $136,239.30 which included $15,000 for me to settle and to not sue the Fund in the future for a Civil Rights violation involving this case. Total loss to our Pension Fund is $310,120.92. This loss to the Fund is not covered by any type of insurance and came out of the working capital of the Fund. Also, what is not included is the loss of man hours the Fund could have been working on instead of compiling information for this case.
Who were the winners and who were the losers? First, and foremost, the lawyers always win, that’s a given. I received $15,000.00 minus $1,000.00 which I donated to the Florida First Amendment Foundation for their support and I reimbursed the National Freedom of Information Coalition for their grant to fund my lawsuit. I ended up with $12,087.45 that I gave to my grandson so that he could learn how to invest and handle money. So I would have to say that the Pension Fund and Taxpayers lost this one and the lawyers and my grandson couldn’t be happier.
As a side note the actives and retirees should really be careful who they pick for Trustees to represent them on the Fund since $310,120.92 is not exactly chicken feed and some would say it is a small fortune.
Also I would want to share that my attorney David Snyder, did an outstanding job representing me.
In closing, I would like to thank the retirees for all their support during the past 3 years involving my lawsuit.