[amsat-bb] Wise Legal Expenses

[Bruce Perens]

Hi Robert,

Unfortunately, you are stating the time sequence backward.

If you read the explanation letter signed by the whole AMSAT board, the
legal expenses are in 2018-2019. The demand letter came at the *end* of the
legal process, when the majority of the funds had already been spent. When
they got the demand letter, AMSAT's attorneys relented and the board did
what was demanded in the letter, and Joe resigned (for reasons he has
chosen not to elaborate upon). Michelle and Patrick's blogs are public and
you can read it there, it is clear that there were many attempts to
communicate before the demand was made.

It also is important to note that AMSAT had lawyers directed at Michelle
and Patrick long, long before they got their own lawyer.

    Thanks

    Bruce

    Thanks

    Bruce

On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 6:19 PM Robert MacHale via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> To all who claim the legal expenses were a waste of money, consider this:
>
>
> >>>In January 2020, a demand letter arrived at AMSAT from an attorney
> representing Directors Thompson and Stoddard.
>
>
> Submitting a demand letter from an attorney is a really big deal. That
> legal line was first crossed by the new board members. Apparently, Joe
> Spier resigned at this point in order to avoid unfair legal entanglements -
> and, as far as I can tell from the few interactions I have had with Joe -
> he is a kind person.
>
> Plenty of evidence, plenty of facts - obviously point to AmSat not keeping
> up with the times. But that does not justify legal betrayal of existing
> board members by new members in an effort to usurp full control of the
> board. A more perfect response would have been to do nothing until the
> election cycle and hope to replace the board members who may have been
> dragging their feet.
>
> My point is this - nobody should be making the argument the legal expenses
> were not required. Hearing this from the members who delivered the demand
> letter feels insulting on many levels and should stop. Own it - the members
> who brought the demand, and their Backer(s), are ultimately responsible for
> the costs incurred. Actions have consequences - and side-effects.
>
> Ends do not justify means. There is a right way and a wrong way to move
> forward. Trust is more valuable than performance.
>
> The legal expenditures were both Wise and Required. The demand letter sent
> by the new board members was neither. Shifting blame and not owning the
> side-effects of our actions is less than optimal.
>
> This observation is not a vote in favor or against any member or candidate.
>
> For reference:
> https://www.amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2020-July/078239.html
>
> Robert MacHale
> . KE6BLR Ham Radio License
> . http://www.aprsat.com/predict
> . http://www.spaceCommunicator.club
> . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space
> Exploration
>
> Silly Joke: What did the little mountain say to the bigger mountain? Hi
> Cliff!
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>


-- 
Bruce Perens - CEO at stealth startup. I'll tell you what it is eventually
:-)