Financial fraud is a broad term that cost the United States billions of dollars annually. There are numerous state and federal agencies that regulate, prevent and punish financial fraud when necessary. Most people are familiar with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).. CLICK TO READ MORE!
https://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ryan-Griffith-Preserving-Justice-in-Financial-Fraud-Cases-California-Daily-Journal.jpeg7501125Brian Austinhttps://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/logo-RG-BLUE-x.pngBrian Austin2022-10-28 15:36:062023-01-30 15:50:20Ryan Griffith, Preserving Justice in Financial Fraud Cases, California Daily Journal
Ryan Griffith
COMMENT: IS OUT-OF-STATE TUITION UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND COULD REMOVING IT EASE THE UNITED STATES STUDENT DEBT CRISIS?
Abstract
This article argues that for the good of the nation the discriminatory practice of charging out-of-state tuition should be ceased and that under the Privileges and Immunities Clause, as well as the Fourteenth Amendment, this practice has violated the law for decades.
Recommended Citation
Ryan Griffith, COMMENT: IS OUT-OF-STATE TUITION UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND COULD REMOVING IT EASE THE UNITED STATES’ STUDENT DEBT CRISIS?, 52 Golden Gate U. L. Rev. (2022). https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/ggulrev/vol52/iss2/3
https://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IS-OUT-OF-STATE-TUITION-UNCONSTITUTIONAL-AND-COULD-REMOVING-IT-EASE-THE-UNITED-STATES-STUDENT-DEBT-CRISIS.jpg7201280Brian Austinhttps://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/logo-RG-BLUE-x.pngBrian Austin2022-02-01 09:50:302023-01-30 15:57:01Ryan Griffith, COMMENT: IS OUT-OF-STATE TUITION UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND COULD REMOVING IT EASE THE UNITED STATES’ STUDENT DEBT CRISIS?, 52 Golden Gate U. L. Rev. (2022)
Amost every city has abandoned, vacant, fire damaged, or otherwise dilapidated properties. Often these properties blight neighborhoods for years, while endangering communities, driving down property values, and harming neighbor hood morale. The neighborhood hopes and expects the city to fix the situation. Unfortunately, most citizens are unfamiliar with government departments and assume the city will just figure it out. Perhaps citizens should expect more from their government. Hopefully, one day the government will run without any flaws, defects or other deficiencies.
Unfortunately, in 2021, while city governments do a great deal, like every other company, individual and organization, city governments have imperfections, which need improvement.
As it relates to nuisance properties, the problem requires exploration and explanation..CLICK TO READ MORE!
https://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ryan-Griffith-City-Attorneys-generate-revenue-prevent-crime-and-reduce-blight-California-Daily-Journal.jpg499875Brian Austinhttps://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/logo-RG-BLUE-x.pngBrian Austin2021-03-16 15:30:182023-01-30 15:35:44Ryan Griffith, City Attorneys; generate revenue, prevent crime, and reduce blight, California Daily Journal
Every city has a fire damaged abandoned, vacant or other wise blighted property within its borders. Severe nuisance properties surface for numerous reasons. These reason can include property owners dying without heirs, zombie foreclosures …CLICK TO READ MORE!
https://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ryan-Griffith-How-neighborhoods-can-fight-nuisance-properties-California-Daily-Journal.jpg348639Brian Austinhttps://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/logo-RG-BLUE-x.pngBrian Austin2021-02-22 15:17:022023-01-30 15:29:29Ryan Griffith, How neighborhoods can fight nuisance properties, California Daily Journal
Ed Madec, men’s basketball head coach at Fresno City College and his attorney, Ryan Griffith, appeared in a courtroom filled with supporters, including much of the 2019-2020 men’s basketball team, in an attempt to overturn the temporary restraining order filed against Madec the previous week, on Thursday, Feb. 27.
The presiding Judicial Officer Kimberly Gaab rejected the appeal after hearing arguments from both sides — Madec’s attorney, Griffith as well as Matthew Besmer, legal counsel for the State Center Community College District.
On Feb. 19, Fresno City College administrators notified Madec that he would go on paid administrative leave on Feb. 21, pending an investigation into potential California Community College Athletic Association rules violations.
In accordance with the California Education Code, employees must be given a two-day notice prior to being placed on administrative leave.
On Feb. 24, Madec filed an appeal to retain his position as head coach of the men’s basketball team – a position he has held since 2006, during which time he led the Rams to 14 consecutive titles, two state championships — not counting the numerous student transfers to four-year colleges around the country.
The Complaint
According to court documents, Madec was brought up for investigation by the SCCCD into potential CCCAA rules violations in early 2019. The investigation stemmed from alleged rules violations regarding the providing of special privileges to his players — a violation of the CCCAA decorum policy.
Court documents indicate that Madec owned three properties from 2013 to 2019, allegedly housing numerous students in that timeframe. In the documents,
“I understand since June 2013, Mr. Madec has owned three different properties for various periods of time in which his basketball players may have resided,” Carole Goldsmith, president of Fresno City College, said.
Goldsmith also said she only knew the extent of the violations around Feb. 4, 2020.
The court documents detail the numerous attempts by district investigators to acquire information from Madec regarding proof of legal tenant occupation status as well as tax return information failed.
Madec handed over only rental receipts to investigators, according to statements from both Goldsmith and Besmer.
The FCC administration made the decision to place Madec on leave because of alleged misdirection and noncompliance in the investigation process by both Madec and members of his basketball team.
On Feb. 17, just two days before being notified of his leave, Madec refused to turn over his and his mother’s personal tax returns which were requested by investigators. They wanted these documents to ascertain whether or not Madec had provided special privileges to his players in the form of housing.
Court statements indicate that Madec was absent from an investigative interview on Jan. 21. He also refused to cooperate with investigators during a rescheduled investigative interview on Jan. 24, leading investigators to conclude that his responses lacked credibility.
Additionally, many of the members of the 2019-2020 basketball team who were contacted during the investigation refused to cooperate, leading investigators to believe that Madec was influencing potential witnesses not to cooperate with the investigation.
FCC administration placed Madec on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation. Resulting punishment for violation of CCCAA rules can extend beyond the college’s basketball team; it could potentially punish the entire athletic department.
Madec, who has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 21, will remain on leave for up to 90 days, at which time the SCCCD must justify the continued suspension no later than May 21.
Madec’s Defense
In January 2019, SCCCD opened an investigation on Madec to determine whether or not he provided special privileges to players.
According to court documents produced by Ryan Griffith, Madec’s attorney, the investigators conducted three separate interviews — two in 2019, and one in January 2020. Madec, according to his attorney, did not know why he was being investigated at the time.
Griffith also stated that although the CCCAA Constitution requires that the dates, times, locations and names of those involved must be disclosed to the individual under investigation,
this information — referred to in court documents as “Form A” — was not submitted at the time of Madec’s leave.
Madec was placed on administrative leave on Feb. 19.
Madec’s attorney claims that the timing of the ensuing administrative leave was not coincidental, but a clear attempt by SCCCD to target the men’s basketball coach.
“Based on my review of the investigation to date, it seemed that defendants [FCC/SCCCD] were engaged in a fishing expedition against Plaintiff [Madec],” Griffith stated in motion filed on Feb. 27 to lift the temporary restraining order.
The Fallout and the Students
“I’m devastated for Coach Madec. I’m absolutely devastated,” said Interim Co-Athletic Director Paul Keysaw.
The outcry for Madec to be reinstated has grown steadily in the weeks since the news broke. His supporters packed the courtroom during his appearance; several former players and others voiced their support of the embattled coach before the final regular season game on Feb 22.
T-shirts embossed with the words, “Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius,” were worn by dozens in attendance during that game against Merced College on Feb. 22.
Segments, most notably on 940 ESPN Radio, have been dedicated solely in the interest of raising awareness to the general public.
But the thing that resonates among nearly all of the people voicing either support or condemnation of Madec was the impact of his suspension on the legacy of the athletics department, the students and athletes that make the program what it is.
“I feel so bad for his players,” Keysaw said.
“They didn’t sign up for this; they’re not part of this,” he said. “Unfortunately they’re pawns caught into this.”
Vallejo”s newest team of pavement-pounders looking out for the community”s welfare will more likely be wearing ties than badges.
The duo of attorneys Eli Flushman and Ryan Griffith have been hired as part of the city”s new two-year pilot program, the Neighborhood Law Project.
On Thursday night, they will host a bit of a coming out party for the community – even with refreshments.
“Really, what we”re hoping is to introduce ourselves, me and Ryan, to let you know who we are and put a face to this program,” Flushman said last week. “We”re going to explain what our job is, explain how we”re going to do it.”
For Flushman, a Berkeley-bred attorney whose relatives — his great-grandfather down through his mother — have called Vallejo home, the job was a natural fit. He said he carries his mother”s pride in the community, and would like to be part of improving it, maybe by going after property owners who are not keeping out squatters.
“(This job) just spoke to me because I knew this was going to be a good. Whatever I did here, it was going to be good,” said Flushman, 31. “If you just fix one house, that”s already better than what it was before. Obviously, our goal is much, much higher than that.”
The program”s kickoff meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Library”s Joseph Room, 505 Santa Clara St.
A key to the Neighborhood Law Project”s success is to be clear that it is not the attorney”s program – it”s the community”s, Flushman said.
“This program is just starting. So a lot of it, at least initially, is going to be just listening to the community and trying to find out what our reality can be – where we can make the most dents,” Flushman said.
Not every community member concern will be right for the program – limited staff time also will determine how many cases the attorneys can shoulder – Flushman stressed that taking the issue to court should not be the first step in solving a problem, either.
“A lot of times, I think of it as (attorneys are) a closer, like in baseball. We finish off things – at least, that”s what we”re hoping to do. We”re hoping to finish some of these long-standing problems that can”t quite get finished through the administrative process the city has,” Flushman said.
“I think, for a lot of attorneys, the courtroom is the final thing that you do. Before you get to the courtroom, though, you try to reach out and contact the actual property owner, and you try to get them to voluntarily take care of the issue. The next step is to use whatever legal arms you have.”
https://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/New-Vallejo-Neighborhood-Law-Program-set-for-public-launch-Thursday-times-herald-82618-RYAN-GRIFFITH-x.jpg733941Brian Austinhttps://rgriffithlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/logo-RG-BLUE-x.pngBrian Austin2018-08-29 03:36:422022-10-21 03:45:02New Vallejo Neighborhood Law Program set for public launch Thursday
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.