On February 24th you can catch a hearing between Dexter Lehtinen (husband of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen) and the Miccosukee Indian Tribe.
Some of these Federal trials/hearings, right at our doorstep, are fascinating. If you have nothing better to do, go. At issue, the tribe is being charged $26 million by the IRS and they are blaming their former attorney for bad advice. From what I have been reading, I don't think he is responsible. He fought the IRS but he also advised the Tribe to:
"...create a tax-reserve fund as a “prudent step” should the Miccosukees have to settle with the IRS."
The tribe had $20 million in that fund under former Chief Cypress...just about what they owe now. Coincidence? I think not.
One word of advice if you go February 24th, leave your cell phone at home. You can't enter a Federal Court House with a cell phone unless you are a lawyer - party to the proceedings.
2 comments:
hey genius or gimleye, just FYI there are 2 Bills in the florida senate and florida house . that will allow for oil and gas drilling in state park lands.
HB-696
SB-1158
Alex Bello
Even if he gave wrong advice in 2006 it sounds like he corrected it. I think the Tribe has treated Lehtinen with unnnecessary meanness. Suing him is their right, but why did they fire him in a public way designed to humiliate him. I admire Lehtinen because he was the US atty who brought the original lawsuit against the state of Florida that jumpstarted Everglades restoration. And frankly, he was known as a Rottweiler working on behalf of the Tribe when he was their atty, and made enemies to push their agenda. Hope they treat him better.
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