Attorney, Thomas More Center Present Eagle Lawsuit Information Aug. 8
Seating is limited for the meeting, held at Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield.
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The president of Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center will speak at an event Aug. 8 billed as a "Community Legal Briefing" on the controversial sale of Farmington Public Schools' Eagle Elementary School building to the Islamic Cultural Center (ICA) of Franklin.
According to a flyer for the event, speakers will include Mt. Clemens attorney Robert Davis, who represents plaintiffs in a civil suit over the sale, and Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel for Thomas More Law Center, which has asked Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate the transaction. The Center's trial counsel Erin Mersino will also attend.
Plans for the "Muslim Cultural Center of West Bloomfield", including a mosque and social/banquet center, go before the West Bloomfield Township planning commission on Aug. 14. The property is located in the northwest corner of 14 Mile and Middlebelt Roads.
Farmington school officials approved the building sale last June, following a contentious board meeting that brought out both opponents and proponents of the sale. Officials have repeatedly affirmed that they acted in accordance with the district's policies in accepting the ICA's $1.1 million offer.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit charge that the district approved the sale without an "open and public" process or appraisal, and without obtaining competitive bids or evaluating the impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
In requesting the attorney general investigation, the Thomas More Law Center alleges corruption and bribery in connection with the sale, charges vehemently denied by trustees Howard Wallach and Karen Bolsen at a recent Farmington school board meeting.
To reserve a seat at the Aug. 8 meeting, RSVP to care4eagle@gmail.com. The Aug. 14 planning commission meeting, held at West Bloomfield Town Hall, 4550 Walnut Lake Rd., starts at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Charles Gaba
3:20 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
I'm not at all familiar with this situation, so I'll ask those who are:
If the issue is that approval of the sale was done improperly, illegally, in violation of codes/procedures, etc etc, then that's one thing.
If the issue is that it was sold to a (gasp!) Islamic organization, then it's a crock of xenophobic garbage.
Neal Charness
7:04 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
If the Thomas More Center receives charitable tax status this is a reason to revoke that. Further, it should be held financially responsible for the litigation expenses incurred by the individuals and district if their claims are baseless. If there was corruption or bribery there's no excuse. Like Charles, I'm not fully aware of the situation but I have seen a fair amount of commentary on the situation.
Andrew
10:44 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
neal that is not a reason to revoke it since Westboro Baptist Church since still has it 501c3 and since it is a law firm its 501c3 status may not be revoked for action it takes on behalf of clients.
Neal Charness
9:22 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I believe the Thomas More Center is allowed to receive contributions that donors receive charitable tax deductions for. The Westboro Baptist Church is sufficiently egregious that Congress has had to enact a statute to protect military funerals. However reprehensible their conduct is it's different than interfering in local issues on their sectarian issues.