ABUSE OF PROCESS BY NATE GREEN, CAO
by former government professor David Dessler
December 12, 2019
December 12, 2019
TWO INTERESTING PHONE CALLS
Out Geoff Feiss (+19708170626) Dec 5 2017
P. Geoffrey Feiss was Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at William & Mary from 1996-2003. He was Provost from 2003-2009. He was my most prominent advisor and supporter from the beginning of the crisis through my move to Texas in May 2019. Though he had been retired for a decade and was far removed from the action at his home in Maine, he was responsible for breaking the case wide open with the letter to active faculty (written with Terry Meyers and Kate Slevin) on Sept 8, 2016.
I had lost my pay and all benefits of employment (but not my job) four weeks before--and had it not been for Feiss, Slevin, and Meyers, no one on campus would have known anything about it.
The discussion above followed Provost Feiss's phone conversation with my lawyer, Shannon Beebe, about what damages I should ask for in my lawsuit. He recommended that I ask for $2 million. He explains in the call why this sum could be considered fair.
I had lost my pay and all benefits of employment (but not my job) four weeks before--and had it not been for Feiss, Slevin, and Meyers, no one on campus would have known anything about it.
The discussion above followed Provost Feiss's phone conversation with my lawyer, Shannon Beebe, about what damages I should ask for in my lawsuit. He recommended that I ask for $2 million. He explains in the call why this sum could be considered fair.
| shannon_beebe_7032582080_april_12_2018_18_23_17_12_mins.pdf |
Shannon Beebe was my employment lawyer. Four months after that call with Provost Feiss, I signed a settlement of the lawsuit and I was eager to take my small payment ($50,000) and leave the state. But the Commonwealth's Attorney, Nate Green, was holding up the process. The agreement had been signed on March 28, 2018. It is April 12 when Shannon calls me to explain how nervous the CAO is about signing. I am confused by this development--as is Shannon, as you can hear. This was quite an educational process.
I learned that lawsuits are settled when the plaintiff files a motion with the court to dismiss the complaints "with prejudice." Meaning, the plaintiff cannot sue over them again. The College was quite willing to sign, but it turned out that Nate Green had significant legal exposure because of the tort abuse explained in the lawsuit. My question to Shannon is:
I learned that lawsuits are settled when the plaintiff files a motion with the court to dismiss the complaints "with prejudice." Meaning, the plaintiff cannot sue over them again. The College was quite willing to sign, but it turned out that Nate Green had significant legal exposure because of the tort abuse explained in the lawsuit. My question to Shannon is:
"If it's a risk management issue, why do Nate Green's people want me to sign a revised settlement agreement?"
I did not understand the answer at the time. It explains a great deal about what was happening then as well as the Commonwealth's Attorney's relentless pursuit of me since.
Listen carefully to the first 8 1/2 minutes of the call.
Listen carefully to the first 8 1/2 minutes of the call.