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<p><span class="breadcrumbs">Quick Links -></span> <a href="#TnG" class="smallLinks">Worcester
T&G Announcement</a> | <a href="#updates" class="smallLinks">April 11
UPDATES </a></p>
<hr size="1" noshade>
<p><strong>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. </strong></p>
<p><strong>(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).</strong></p>
<p><br>
February 10, 2005 <strong>“CONFIDENTIAL” </strong>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><strong>The Facts: </strong></p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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!</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p><br>
• 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. </p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p> • 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.</p>
<p>• 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.</p>
<p>• 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>
<br>
• 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).</p>
<p>Ms. Lindstrom, I learned as a youth <strong>“to believe none of what
you hear, and only a fraction of what you see”</strong> until you
have the full benefit of <strong>The Facts</strong>! 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. (<strong>Point
in fact:</strong> my attorneys have requested this information in writing
on several occasions and verbally on numerous other occasions – to
no avail).</p>
<p><br>
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><br>
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><br>
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><br>
Please advise.</p>
<p><br>
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><strong>Signed</strong></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. <strong>via U.S. Mail</strong></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., Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, 311 Main St., Worcester,
MA 01615 Daniel Flynn, Esq., Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, 311 Main St., Worcester,
MA 01615-0156</p>
<p><a href="#top" class="smallLinks"><br>
<br>
Return to the top</a></p>
<hr size="1" noshade>
<p> <strong><a name="TnG"></a>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>
<p><strong>Copy: </strong></p>
<p align="center"> <strong>JUSTICE AT WHAT PRICE?</strong></p>
<p align="center">The Funeral Profession is an honorable profession.</p>
<p align="center"><em>Unfortunately a few within the profession are not!</em></p>
<p align="center">“JUSTICE” oftentimes comes at a very high price.</p>
<p align="center">Go to <em>www.justiceatwhatprice.com</em> now to learn more!</p>
<p align="center">“Extremely important information with weekly updates
will commence <strong>March 28, 2005</strong></p>
<p align="center">Remember <em>www.justiceatwhatprice.com</em>. Don’t
miss it!!!</p>
<p><strong>End of Copy !</strong></p>
<p><strong>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.</strong></p>
<p><strong>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.”</strong></p>
<p><strong>** Please note: 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.</strong></p>
<p><strong>I shall publish the name(s) and statement(s) on this web site and
in news print upon “official” receipt of the information.</strong></p>
<p><a href="#top" class="smallLinks"><br>
<br>
Return to the top</a></p>
<hr size="1" noshade>
<p> <strong><a name="updates"></a>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><br>
</p>
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