|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/justiceatwhatprice.c/archives/2005/04/ |
Upload File : |
<!--#include virtual="/includes/archive.shtml"-->
<div id="main">
<h3 class="title">Update - April 4, 2005</h3>
<div id="print" style="border: 1px dashed #BBBBBB; padding: 0 0 0 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<p><a href="#" onclick="window.print();return false;"><img src="/images/print.gif" width="19" height="17" border="0" align="bottom">
Print this page»</a></p>
</div>
<p class="titlesmall">THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDENCE WAS FORWARDED TO THE DIRECTOR,
OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS & BUSINESS REGULATIONS (MS. BETH LINDSTROM)
ON FEBRUARY 10, 2005 WITH INFORMATIONAL COPIES PROVIDED TO GOVERNOR ROMNEY,
LT. GOVERNOR HEALEY, & ATTORNEY GENERAL REILLY.</p>
<p>(To date, only a short courtesy reply has been received from Gov. Romney.
No response as of this date has been received from Ms. Lindstrom).</p>
<div class="insert">
<p>February 10, 2005 “CONFIDENTIAL” by FEDEX</p>
<p>Ms. Beth Lindstrom, Director<br>
Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation<br>
10 Park Plaza, Suite 5170<br>
Boston, MA 02114</p>
<p>Dear Ms. Lindstrom:</p>
<p>I write to you seeking fairness and justice – as I have been told
“you can count on this from Beth Lindstrom” from several sources
at the State House. I also write to you as, I believe, you have some degree
of oversight with the Board of Registration and Division of Professional
Licensure. To date, I have not received either fairness or justice from
the Board of Registration in Funeral Service or the Division of Professional
Licensure.</p>
<p>The Facts:</p>
<ul>
<li>My name is Philip G. Haddad, Jr. I have been licensed as a funeral
director in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1967. License Number
5300.<br>
</li>
<li>There has never been a complaint filed against me by a family I have
served nor a complaint ever filed against me by a family with whom I
have arranged their pre-need funeral services. (Quite frankly, believe
it or not, I have NEVER received a complaint verbally or otherwise from
any family, any clergy member, or anyone party to a funeral service
I have been associated with at any time.) As you can see, I take great
pride in this accomplishment!<br>
</li>
<li>I have never filed a complaint with the Board of Registration in Funeral
Service from the time I became licensed in 1967 to the present.<br>
</li>
<li>The ONLY complaints filed against me since 1967 and with the Board
of Registration in Funeral Service are by those within the funeral/deathcare
industry; funeral directors jealous of my following/clientele and how
I do business. I have appeared before the Board of Registration in Funeral
Service on many occasions in the past 24 years to answer questions/complaints
filed anonymously and later by signature by local funeral directors
in Central Massachusetts. Each time satisfactory responses were provided
and complaints went away.<br>
</li>
<li>Most recently and on November 19, 2003, Mr. John Bresnahan visited
Nordgren Memorial Chapel in Worcester where I had been practicing as
a funeral director for almost 10 years. (I was away from the office
at the time of his unannounced visit). He was given a completed funeral
file (funeral was prepaid and burial had taken place) for a family that
recently lost their mother. Mr. Bresnahan found the Cost of Goods and
Services form for the deceased, Mrs. Bahaviolos, missing.<br>
</li>
<li>I was contacted by phone by Mr. Ronald Johnson, another director at
the funeral home at which time Mr. Bresnahan asked if I was aware of
the whereabouts of the Cost of Goods and Services form for Mrs. Bahaviolos?
My response was, “the file was complete when I gave it to Ms.
Wiles, the bookkeeper/receptionist as I do with all completed files,
and I know the family has a refund coming and it should all be there
in the file.” I also indicated to Mr. Bresnahan that I might have
a working copy in my file in the car, and I would look and get back
to him. Mr. Bresnahan asked that I fax it to him at his office if I
found a copy. I then had an associate go to my car and bring the cardboard
box I call “my file” to me so that I could determine whether
or not I had a copy.<br>
</li>
<li>I did find a wrinkled copy and called Nordgren’s immediately.
Mrs. Wiles was unable to tell me if Mr. Bresnahan was still there, and
she refused to look to see if he was still at Nordgren’s. I indicated
to Mrs. Wiles that I was faxing the working copy of the Goods and Services
Form for Mrs. Bahaviolos to her and could she please give it to Mr.
Bresnahan; and if he had left to please contact me and I would fax it
to his office.<br>
</li>
<li>Six (6) hours later (still November 19, 2003), I was served with a
Letter of Termination of Employment from Kurt Mangsen, President/CEO
Nordgren Memorial Chapel by a local constable. Please note: At that
time I was a 10% owner of non-voting stock, which allowed the funeral
home to advertise my name; and a 3% owner of the Class A voting stock,
which means I actually owned 3% of Nordgren Memorial Chapel.<br>
</li>
<li>Shortly thereafter, I was asked to appear before the Board of Registration
in Funeral Service – the date to appear being December 9, 2003.
I altered travel plans and two presentations I was to make in New York
City in order to accommodate the request of the Board.<br>
</li>
<li>On December 9, 2003 I received, what I would consider, a less than
professional reception from the Board; the environment being what I
would consider “hostile” at best. Quite frankly, I was surprised
and shocked, as the reception I have always received from the Board
prior to this time was professional and courteous at a minimum. Before
leaving the meeting, something told me to ask if the meeting was taped,
to which I was informed it was. I asked the Board if I could have a
copy of the tape, and I was informed “Yes, I could”; at
which time Mr. Byron Blanchard gave me his business card. The very next
day I emailed Mr. Blanchard requesting a copy of the tape of the December
9, 2003 meeting, indicating I would be pleased to pay for the tape as
appropriate.<br>
</li>
<li>Thirteen (13) months later and after three additional correspondences
from Bowditch & Dewey LLP, attorneys representing me, the tape was
released to Atty Daniel Flynn; and only after selected contents of the
tape were reproduced in a national trade association publication.<br>
</li>
<li>Ms. Lindstrom, I have spent 15 months unable to practice in my chosen
profession. During this time I and others have conducted an investigation
of the facts leading up to actions on behalf of Nordgren Memorial Chapel,
other funeral directors in Central Massachusetts, and the Board of Registration
in Funeral Service. The aforementioned tape of December 9, 2003 meeting
of the Board of Registration in Funeral Service tells volumes as to
why I was treated as “shabbily” as I was.<br>
</li>
<li>I have been contacted by two (2) national industry association publications
that are very familiar with me personally and the national as well as
local charitable endeavors I am actively involved with indicating that
I MUST take a public stance in defense of the allegations and accusations
made against me. Quite frankly, I have great admiration for the profession
of funeral service, and I do not wish to harm anyone; but I MUST set
the record straight, and I cannot wait longer. I also have been contacted
by the national media, and have declined to respond to accusations that
have been printed up to this point. I did agree to be interviewed and
to present information that has been obtained from our investigation
and depositions that have been taken in very recent times within 60
days if the issues were not resolved by this time (the date being -
March 31, 2005). I will honor my word, as always.<br>
</li>
<li>At the Show Cause Hearing we shall present or cross examine 18 witnesses,
16 of which are from the immediate Worcester area. I have requested
that the Show Cause Hearing be held in Worcester. Many of those who
will testify to the facts or be cross examined are either elderly (several
barely ambulatory) or professional, and to force them to come to Boston,
find parking, and be hassled by the Boston traffic would be a major
imposition. I have requested of the Division of Professional Licensure
that the Show Cause Hearing be held in Worcester – a request that
has been denied to this point. (You have to see the denial)!!!<br>
</li>
<li>I ask reconsideration of this request that the Show Cause Hearing
be held in Worcester; and I am prepared to secure conference room space
in the Worcester Federal Building/ Federal Courthouse, 595 Main Street,
Worcester, Massachusetts for the hearing. (I was the building manager
of the Worcester Federal Building from 1980-1984, and will obtain approval
for its use for the Show Cause Hearing from the Federal Courts and the
General Services Administration, as appropriate).</li>
</ul>
<p>Ms. Lindstrom, I learned as a youth “to believe none of what you
hear, and only a fraction of what you see” until you have the full
benefit of The Facts! I wouldn’t allow myself to jump to conclusions
by the actions of Nordgren Memorial Chapel, and subsequent actions by
the Board of Registration in Funeral Service. I wanted to give everyone
the benefit of doubt until the jury was in. Well, the jury is in, the
character assassins identified, and the facts screaming to be heard.</p>
<p>If at the time you receive this correspondence, we have not been provided
with the name of the funeral director, the name and address of the funeral
home, the date and time, and a copy of the affidavit attesting that I
attempted to enter into a financial arrangement for the purpose of referring
pre-need customers to the funeral home in return for a portion of the
revenue from the pre-need accounts, please direct the Division of Professional
Licensure to do so immediately. Number 12 of the Order to Show Cause makes
this statement, and as the party to whom these allegations are made, I
have the right and privilege to have this information made available to
me. (Point in fact: my attorneys have requested this information in writing
on several occasions and verbally on numerous other occasions –
to no avail).</p>
<p> At this point I am not calling for an investigation of the Board of
Registration in Funeral Service or the Division of Professional Licensure,
although I am tempted to do so. The allegations and accusations (inaccurate
and blatantly distorted) have taken on a “life of their own”
as a result of the national attention they have received as a result of
information provided by person(s) directly involved in the complaints
and process taken to date. More at the appropriate time.</p>
<p> Ms. Lindstrom, there has been a colossal miscarriage of justice since
November 19, 2003. The Board of Registration in Funeral Service and now
the Division of Professional Licensure have been used and their authority
abused as they have unfortunately become embroiled in a “witch hunt”
of huge proportions; a witch hunt I cautioned them about from the outset.
For everyone’s sake, I hope the damage is not totally irreversible.</p>
<p> I am prepared to discuss in general terms the content of our investigation
with either yourself or an independent investigative authority as you
may deem appropriate. I also request, at an absolute minimum, that assuming
a Show Cause Hearing goes forward, that it be scheduled within thirty
(30) days of receipt of this correspondence and that the Show Cause Hearing
be held in Worcester or the immediate surrounding area.</p>
<p> Please advise.</p>
<p> I may be contacted at the address below and/or at the phone numbers
listed. I am providing a copy of this correspondence to the appropriate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts government personnel listed below for information
purposes only, as I would not wish for any of them to be called upon and
unaware of the basic issues being considered.</p>
<p>I appreciate you taking the time to read this correspondence, and for
whatever action you may deem appropriate.</p>
<p>Respectfully,</p>
<p>Signed</p>
<p>Philip G. Haddad, Jr.<br>
9 Kenwood Avenue<br>
Worcester, MA 01605-1321</p>
<p>(508) 852-0094 (residence)<br>
(508) 836-2600 (days)<br>
(508) 868-0167 (cell)</p>
<p>c.c. via U.S. Mail</p>
<p>Mitt Romney, Governor, State House, Room 360, Boston, MA 0213<br>
Kerry Healey, Lieutenant Governor, State House, Boston, MA 02133<br>
Thomas Reilly, Attorney General, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108</p>
<p>Michael Angelini, Esq., <br>
Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, 311 Main St., Worcester, MA 01615 <br>
<br>
Daniel Flynn, Esq., <br>
Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, 311 Main St., Worcester, MA 01615-0156</p>
</div>
<p><strong>On Sunday, March 6, 2005 I posted an announcement on the obituary
page of the Worcester Telegram (copy below). The announcement was to have
run again on Wednesday, March 9, 2005, but the Worcester Telegram refused
to run the announcement unless I changed the copy to take a more positive
approach to the content of the announcement. Obviously I refused and the
announcement has not been published again.</strong></p>
<div class="insert">
<p><strong>JUSTICE AT WHAT PRICE?</strong></p>
<p>The Funeral Profession is an honorable profession.</p>
<p>Unfortunately a few within the profession are not!</p>
<p>“JUSTICE” oftentimes comes at a very high price.</p>
<p>Go to www.justiceatwhatprice.com now to learn more!</p>
<p>“Extremely important information with weekly updates will commence
<strong>March 28, 2005</strong></p>
<p>Remember <strong>www.justiceatwhatprice.com</strong>. Don’t miss
it!!!</p>
</div>
<p>I hesitated to provide further updates until I received a decision by the
Worcester Superior Court to compel Nordgren Memorial Chapel, in the person(s)
of Kurt and Katherine Mangsen, to produce documents which are compelling
in the conspiracy which has taken on a life of its own at this stage. The
decision in the affirmative was received by my attorneys on March 28, 2005.</p>
<p>Additionally, I have been advised that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Division of Professional Licensure will finally adhere to my request for
the name(s) of the funeral director(s), the name(s) of the funeral home(s),
the date and time the statement(s) were made and a copy of the statement(s)
that allege and I quote: “You attempted to enter into a financial
arrangement for the purpose of referring pre-need customers to the funeral
home in return for a portion of the revenue from the pre-need accounts.”</p>
<p><strong>* Please note:</strong> we have requested this information from
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Funeral Service
and the Division of Professional Licensure for nine (9) months without success.
We were recently informed the funeral director(s) were reluctant to allow
the release of their name(s) and statement(s) because of their concern for
the possibility of retaliation by me and that their statement(s) might hurt
their business were they made public.</p>
<p>I shall publish the name(s) and statement(s) on this web site and in news
print upon “official” receipt of the information.</p>
<p><strong>APRIL 11, 2005 UPDATE WILL INCLUDE:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Correspondence to Attorney General Thomas Reilly requesting an
“independent investigation into allegations, accusations, actions
taken, and actions not taken by the Board of Funeral Service, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts to include abuse of its powers and authority, becoming
a pawn for one or more local funeral directors in their vicious attempt
at character assassination of one in their own profession” AND much
more.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Stay Tuned!</strong></p>
<p> <a href="#top">Return To The Top of The Page » </a></p>
</div>
<!--#include virtual="/includes/footr.shtml"-->