Just before he was so brilliant with FEMA this is what he did:
Before joining the DHS/FEMA, Brown was the Judges and Stewards Commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association, (IAHA), from 1989-2001. After numerous lawsuits were filed against the organization over disciplinary actions[5], Brown was forced to resign.[6]
A March 2000 two-part report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, chronicling one of the disciplinary actions, lauded Brown for pursuing an investigation against David Boggs, "the kingpin of the Arabian horse world", despite internal pressure to end the inquiry.[6] The Brown-led investigation found Boggs performed medically unnecessary surgery on horses to enhance their visual appeal. An ethics board suspended Boggs for five years. Boggs protested through multiple lawsuits against both the organization and Brown, alleging slander and defamation. Brown and the IAHA prevailed, but the lawsuits nonetheless took a toll on morale. Some members interviewed felt Brown showed an imperious attitude, and nicknamed him "The Czar." [7]
Brown started his own legal defense fund before resigning, a move he said was necessary to protect his family's assets. [8] However, some IAHA insiders claimed that this was what really led to his ouster. He raised money from breeders for the fund as well as IAHA, creating a conflict of interest. Also, his contract stipulated that IAHA was to pay all his personal legal expenses, on top of his $100,000 annual salary. IAHA became financially depleted, and had to be merged with the Arabian Horse Registry of America.[*************************************************************************************
CRONYISM....I've known for several days that FEMA head Michael Brown had no previous disaster management experience when he was brought on board by the Bush administration in 2001 (originally as deputy director, then as director). But apparently it's actually worse than that. Laura Rozen summarizes:
As several readers have alerted me, not only was FEMA chief Michael D. Brown a former attorney for the Lyons, Colorado based International Arabian Horse Association, but he was actually *fired from* the International Arabian Horse Association. A Kos poster writes that his colleagues says he was fired for being an "unmitigated, total...disaster". The NYT profiles him here. Even I am staggered — Brown was the lawyer for the horse association not back in the 1980s or 1990s, but until 2001 when he was brought into FEMA as deputy director by Joe Allbaugh. Incredible.
Yes. Incredible. But not hard to believe.
UPDATE: The Boston Herald confirms the story:
Before joining the Bush administration in 2001, Brown spent 11 years as the commissioner of judges and stewards for the International Arabian Horse Association..."This was his full-time job...for 11 years," [a spokeswoman] added.
Brown was forced out of the position after a spate of lawsuits over alleged supervision failures. "He was asked to resign," Bill Pennington, president of the IAHA at the time, confirmed last night.
Soon after, Brown was invited to join the administration by his old Oklahoma college roommate Joseph Allbaugh, the previous head of FEMA until he quit in 2003 to work for the president's re-election campaign.
Another case of "failing upward," apparently.
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Mike Brown and IAHA
From 1991 to 2001, Mike Brown was the Commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, an international subsidiary of the national governing organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee. This Bridle and Bit article notes a lawsuit settlement offer:
“Fernando Santibanes, the owner of the Arabian stallion Magnum Psyche, and Darlene and Harold Orr, the owners of the Arabian stallion Dark Victory, have advised me that they intend to file suits against IAHA for defamation, and other claims, based upon the statements made by Commissioner Brown during his investigation of mine, and I would agree to use my best efforts to convince Mr. Santibanes and the Orrs not to proceed with litigation over these matters.”
According to the Boston Herald, Mike Brown, after 11 years as president of the International Arabian Horse Association (IAHA), Mike Brown was forced to resign:
“Before joining the Bush administration in 2001, Brown spent 11 years as the commissioner of judges and stewards for the International Arabian Horse Association, a breeders' and horse-show organization based in Colorado.
``We do disciplinary actions, certification of (show trial) judges. We hold classes to train people to become judges and stewards. And we keep records,'' explained a spokeswoman for the IAHA commissioner's office. ``This was his full-time job . . . for 11 years,'' she added.
Brown was forced out of the position after a spate of lawsuits over alleged supervision failures.”
Mike Brown was involved in high-dollar lawsuits against the IAHA. Most notably the controversial suspension of David Boggs, allegedly for having plastic surgery done on the National Champion Stallion, Magnum Psyche,
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1 comment:
Casey,
The whole deal bankrupted International Arabian Horse Association, but AHA is up holding Boggs's suspension. How do snakes get around things, He had his wife, Terry Ann call him after every class with the results in which there were Midwest horses entered, and handled by Sandro Pena a trainer from Midwest who was not found quilty of anything. As he was suspended from all shows or even being on the grounds, it was his way around it. I know because I was sitting with her in 2003 and listened. But an association did what was right.
On October 15, 1999, David Boggs, an IAHA member and judge who had been suspended for five (5) years for unethical conduct, sued IAHA seeking to overturn the Ethical Practice Review Board (EPRB) decision and sanction by IAHA as arbitrary and capricious. Shortly after the case was filed in October, 1999, Judge Leopold denied Boggs' motion for a temporary restraining order on the grounds, among others, that IAHA had acted reasonably and the EPRB had conducted a fair hearing of the charges against Boggs.
Boggs amended his complaint twice and added individual defendants - Mary Anne Grimmell, Tom Connelly and Michael Brown.
...
The Court granted IAHA's motion to dismiss the case after Boggs finished his presentation; IAHA was not required to put on any evidence. A copy of the Court's ruling is posted on IAHA's website. The Court also awarded IAHA its attorneys' fees and costs. On Friday, May 11, 2001, IAHA submitted the Statement of Costs and Attorneys' Fees which totaled $290,216.
Boggs filed an appeal (case #01-CA-984) of the judgment dismissing his case and objected to the award of legal fees and costs. On October 4, 2001, in a 4-hour hearing to Judge Levi, IAHA prevailed on Boggs' objection to IAHA's fees and costs. The judge ruled that the majority of the IAHA fees and all of its costs were reasonable, reducing IAHA's attorneys' fees by approximately $11,500. Judgment was entered against Boggs for over $278,000. Boggs then filed an appeal of the attorneys' fees award.
As a result of mediation which took place December 27-28, 2001, all litigation was settled. Boggs dismissed his appeals, which means that his 5 year suspension remains unchanged. In addition, IAHA will receive immediate payment of 75% of its attorneys' fees judgment.
IAHA vs. David C. Boggs, Mystique Lady Ventures, London Derby, S.A., Mayed, S.A., and Harold & Dolly Orr Civil Action No. 00-CV-2185, Division 4 District Court, Arapahoe County, State of Colorado
On August 10, 2000, IAHA filed a countersuit against David Boggs and several of his clients whom he had enlisted as plaintiffs in separate lawsuits against IAHA. IAHA alleged that the defendants had conspired to abuse the legal process in order to extort from IAHA a reduction of Boggs' suspension and, failing that, to bankrupt IAHA. IAHA sought to recover compensatory damages, including litigation costs incurred in the several lawsuits as well as punitive damages.
All of the defendants filed motions to dismiss the case. In February, 2001, Judge Stuart ruled that, "The motions to dismiss are denied in all respects except the following: The fifth claim for relief (Duress) is dismissed.
...
This case was filed May 17, 2000 and was an action by the current and previous owners of the 1998 U.S. Nationals Champion Stallion, Magnum Psyche (shown by David Boggs). The claims were based on allegations that IAHA and Brown, IAHA's Judges and Stewards Commissioner, defamed Plaintiffs and disparaged Magnum Psyche in connection with IAHA's investigation and suspension of David Boggs.
...
As a result of USAE (formerly AHSA) revoking the 1998 U. S. Nationals Mare Championship from TF Queen AHearts (shown by David Boggs), the mare's owners filed suit on March 9, 2000 against Scott Bennett, DVM., Equine Services PSC and IAHA.
#
2. IAHA(R): Update on IAHA Litigation (as of 7/18/01)
www.iaha.com/hottopic_010718.h - [Cached]
Published on: 7/19/2001 Last Visited: 7/19/2001
In October , 1999 , David Boggs , an IAHA member and judge who had been suspended for five ( 5 ) years for unethical conduct , sued IAHA seeking to overturn the EPRB decision and sanction by IAHA as arbitrary and capricious. Shortly after the case was filed in October , 1999 , Judge Leopold denied Boggs' motion for a temporary restraining order on the grounds , among others , that IAHA had acted reasonably in its hearing of the charges against Boggs.
Boggs sought to amend his complaint twice , and add individual defendants -- Mary Anne Grimmell , Tom Connelly and Michael Brown.
...
Boggs filed an appeal of both the judgment dismissing his case and the award of legal fees. The court assigned a new number to the appeal case ( # 01-CA-984 ).
Mystique Lady Ventures vs.
...
This is an action by the owners of the 1998 U. S. Nationals Champion Stallion , Magnum Psyche ( shown by David Boggs ) alleging : 1 ) product disparagement ; 2 ) intentional interference with prospective business advantage ; 3 ) defamation ; and 4 ) violation of the Colorado Consumer Products Act. These claims are based on allegations that IAHA and Brown ( IAHA's Judges & Stewards Commissioner ) defamed Plaintiffs and disparaged Magnum Psyche in connection with IAHA's investigation and suspension of David Boggs.
The court-ordered mediation took place May 22 , 2001 at the Judicial Arbiter Group ( JAG ) in Denver , Colorado. The insurance companies settled the London Derby/Mayed lawsuit for $250 , 000. IAHA did not have control over the settlement amount ( unless it wanted to forfeit insurance coverage in order to veto the settlement ). IAHA agreed to publish in the upcoming IAH magazine a one-time statement that In September 1999 , following a full and fair hearing before IAHA's EPRB , the EPRB unanimously concluded that the evidence was insufficient to establish that Magnum Psyche had undergone cosmetic surgery in violation of IAHA's rules.. IAHA also agreed not to further prosecute the allegations of cosmetic surgery on Magnum Psyche that had already been considered by the EPRB.
...
David C. Boggs ; Harold & Dolly Orr ; Mystique Lady Ventures ;. Mayed , S.A. ; and London Derby , S.A. Civil Action No. 00-CV-2185 , Division 4 District Court , Arapahoe County , State of Colorado
On August 10 , 2000 , IAHA filed a countersuit against David Boggs and several of his clients whom he had enlisted as plaintiffs in separate lawsuits against IAHA. IAHA seeks to recover compensatory damages , including fees incurred in the several cases described above , as well as punitive damages.
All of the defendants filed motions to dismiss the case. In February , 2001 , Judge Stuart ruled that , The motions to dismiss are denied in all respects except the following. The fifth claim for relief ( Duress ) is dismissed..
#
3. IAHA®: Update on Resolution of IAHA Litigation (as of 2/4/02)
www.iaha.com/hottopic_020204_l - [Cached]
Published on: 2/5/2002 Last Visited: 2/5/2002
On October 15, 1999, David Boggs, an IAHA member and judge who had been suspended for five (5) years for unethical conduct, sued IAHA seeking to overturn the Ethical Practice Review Board (EPRB) decision and sanction by IAHA as arbitrary and capricious. Shortly after the case was filed in October, 1999, Judge Leopold denied Boggs' motion for a temporary restraining order on the grounds, among others, that IAHA had acted reasonably and the EPRB had conducted a fair hearing of the charges against Boggs.
Boggs amended his complaint twice and added individual defendants - Mary Anne Grimmell, Tom Connelly and Michael Brown.
...
The Court granted IAHA's motion to dismiss the case after Boggs finished his presentation; IAHA was not required to put on any evidence. A copy of the Court's ruling is posted on IAHA's website. The Court also awarded IAHA its attorneys' fees and costs. On Friday, May 11, 2001, IAHA submitted the Statement of Costs and Attorneys' Fees which totaled $290,216.
Boggs filed an appeal (case #01-CA-984) of the judgment dismissing his case and objected to the award of legal fees and costs. On October 4, 2001, in a 4-hour hearing to Judge Levi, IAHA prevailed on Boggs' objection to IAHA's fees and costs. The judge ruled that the majority of the IAHA fees and all of its costs were reasonable, reducing IAHA's attorneys' fees by approximately $11,500. Judgment was entered against Boggs for over $278,000. Boggs then filed an appeal of the attorneys' fees award.
As a result of mediation which took place December 27-28, 2001, all litigation was settled. Boggs dismissed his appeals, which means that his 5 year suspension remains unchanged. In addition, IAHA will receive immediate payment of 75% of its attorneys' fees judgment.
IAHA vs. David C. Boggs, Mystique Lady Ventures, London Derby, S.A., Mayed, S.A., and Harold & Dolly Orr Civil Action No. 00-CV-2185, Division 4 District Court, Arapahoe County, State of Colorado
On August 10, 2000, IAHA filed a countersuit against David Boggs and several of his clients whom he had enlisted as plaintiffs in separate lawsuits against IAHA. IAHA alleged that the defendants had conspired to abuse the legal process in order to extort from IAHA a reduction of Boggs' suspension and, failing that, to bankrupt IAHA. IAHA sought to recover compensatory damages, including litigation costs incurred in the several lawsuits as well as punitive damages.
All of the defendants filed motions to dismiss the case. In February, 2001, Judge Stuart ruled that, "The motions to dismiss are denied in all respects except the following: The fifth claim for relief (Duress) is dismissed.
...
This case was filed May 17, 2000 and was an action by the current and previous owners of the 1998 U.S. Nationals Champion Stallion, Magnum Psyche (shown by David Boggs). The claims were based on allegations that IAHA and Brown, IAHA's Judges and Stewards Commissioner, defamed Plaintiffs and disparaged Magnum Psyche in connection with IAHA's investigation and suspension of David Boggs.
...
As a result of USAE (formerly AHSA) revoking the 1998 U. S. Nationals Mare Championship from TF Queen AHearts (shown by David Boggs), the mare's owners filed suit on March 9, 2000 against Scott Bennett, DVM., Equine Services PSC and IAHA.
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