No, not the novel by Michael Crichton…a timeline of the events leading to the district’s recent adventure in court.
The issue of the district’s involvement in the whole restraining order scenario has obviously raised emotions on both sides of the issue…and given rise to some misunderstandings as well, as evidenced by comment 7 to this post at falconlady.com, as well as many others on both that site and this one.
To try and clarify what happened when, I’ve put together a timeline, pulling from legal bills, court transcripts, and other data. While I make no secret of my opinion of this, I will try to present the facts as bias-free as I can; in those instances where I express opinion, I will do so in green. Also, for those instances where costs are vague (such as multiple items listed against a single charge), I have marked those costs with an asterisk (*). Dates are exact where it is possible to determine, estimated otherwise.
Finally, while it is not normally my habit to publicize email traffic (very easily faked), I will do so here to try and provide some context to the statements and allegations. All email traffic was received by me, so I can attest to that part of it, at least; however, I cannot authenticate the sender of the email, or any part of an email that was forwarded to me. In those instances, I recommend you contact the sender and recipient(s) if you will to confirm the validity of that message.
So, to set the stage: Ron Pace becomes interested in district affairs…and offers help, and asks questions; it appears he is unsatisfied with the answers, so he becomes more direct with his questions. There is also apparently growing discontent with the existing district board (Jennifer Barber, Dave Haehn, Ted Hanchett, Jan Pizzi, and Bob Sobota) as evidenced by the minutes of the 20 November 2008 district board meeting (click here to read).
| 2008 | |||
| Date | Incident | Source | Cost |
| 20 Nov | The proximate event (the “most serious incident”) took place on 20 November – the alleged (and discredited) “AK-47” threat | ||
| 20 Nov | The Lawyer™ reviews “defamation” NOTE: Unclear if this is related to Ron Pace, A.Michael Pizzi, or others; however, as Ron Pace’s “threat” had not yet been “remembered”, and the court finding indicates it was A. Michael Pizzi who people remembered “running to the front of the room, almost attacking Mr. Haehn” (Finding, page 14) I’m listing this event as questionable. |
2008-11 |
$192.50 |
| 20 Nov | The Lawyer™ reviews “defamation” again NOTE: Unclear if this is related to Ron Pace, A.Michael Pizzi, or others; however, as Ron Pace’s “threat” had not yet been “remembered”, and the court finding indicates it was A. Michael Pizzi who people remembered “running to the front of the room, almost attacking Mr. Haehn” (Finding, page 14) I’m listing this event as questionable. |
2008-11 Page 3 |
$754.50* |
| Sometime over the next week or so, A. Michael Pizzi ‘remembers’ Ron Pace issuing the AK-47 threat and tells his wife. Jan Pizzi notifies Larry Bishop. (Finding, page 14, line 25). No action is taken by the district. | |||
| Mid-Dec | Ron Pace meets with Gene Cozzolino and Larry Bishop at the district office. The district testified that Ron Pace was acting “aggressive” and “threatening”; the tape recording of the meeting proves otherwise – found as not credible Moral of this story: ALWAYS record interaction with the district |
Finding page 19 |
|
| 11 Dec | The next event – Ron’s discussion with me at the interviews for the vacant board positions. Ron stated “maybe he should bring a gun to the board meeting” or something like that (since A. Michael Pizzi was seen to do so (Finding, page 16). Interestingly enough, this was not listed on the Request for Civil Protection Order. |
||
| 15 Dec | The Lawyer™ reviews “trespass and public buildings” in response to Ron Pace’s requests | 2008-12 Page 1 |
$319.00 |
| 19 Dec | Eugene Cozzolino reports an incident where Ron Pace wanted to look at the vacuum truck – determined as not threatening | Finding page 17 |
|
| 23 Dec | Jerry Jacobson reports an incident where Ron Pace “stops and looks at him” – determined as not threatening | Finding page 18 |
|
| 2009 | |||
| Date | Incident | Source | Cost |
| 05 Jan | WHMD receives a check from Ron Pace with the memo “You’re Next” – determined as not threatening | Finding page 19 |
|
| 05 Jan | The Lawyer™ reviews “defamation” again |
2009-01 |
$464.00* |
| 06 Jan | The Lawyer™ drafts a Civil Protection Order Memorandum | 2009-01 Page 4 |
$262.50 |
| 08 Jan | The Lawyer™ reviews protective order and harassment statutes | 2009-01 Page 4 |
$145.00 |
| 09 Jan | The Lawyer™ reviews protective order and harassment statutes again | 2009-01 Page 4 |
$58.00 |
| 09 Jan | The Lawyer™ reviews protective order and harassment statutes again | 2009-01 Page 4 |
$667.00 |
| 13 Jan |
Ron Pace continues to press the issues; he is then “barred from the district offices” by Larry Bishop. |
||
| 27 Jan | Mr. Kalbach reports that Ron Pace’s behavior at the town hall meeting was threatening – determined as not threatening Listen to the recording of the town hall meeting |
Finding page 21 |
|
| 28 Jan | Tony Dicensio reports that Ron Pace makes threatening comments and gestures — found as not credible | Finding page 22 |
|
| 29 Jan | The Lawyer™ reviews “Pace restraining order” | 2009-02 page 1 |
$360.00* |
|
29 Jan |
The Lawyer™ works on MISCELLANEOUS CLAIM-RON PACE | 2009-02 Page 3 |
$493.00 |
|
30 Jan |
The Lawyer™ works on MISCELLANEOUS CLAIM-RON PACE | 2009-02 Page 4 |
$319.00 |
|
03 Feb |
The Lawyer™ works on MISCELLANEOUS CLAIM-RON PACE | 2009-02 Page 4 |
$203.00 |
|
06 Feb |
The Lawyer™ works on MISCELLANEOUS CLAIM-RON PACE | 2009-02 Page 4 |
$145.00 |
|
10 Feb |
The Lawyer™ works on MISCELLANEOUS CLAIM-RON PACE and “requirements for an injunction” | 2009-02 Page 4 |
$261.00 |
|
11 Feb |
The Lawyer™ works on MISCELLANEOUS CLAIM-RON PACE | 2009-02 Page 4 |
$1566.00 |
| 26 Feb |
Janice Pizzi “is adamant of the fact” that Ron Pace threatened “Well, I might as well get rid of us – of all the board members and their spouses” at the district board meeting; no one else hears this, nor is it recorded by one of the numerous tape recorders running – determined as not credible |
Finding page 23 |
|
| 09 Mar | The Lawyer™ tries to determine if they can stop me from posting recordings of the district meetings on my website | 2009-03 page 2 |
$175.00 |
| 10 Mar | The Lawyer™ tries again to determine if they can stop me from posting recordings of the district meetings on my website | 2009-03 page 2 |
$350.00 |
| 09 Mar | The Lawyer™ researches “miscellaneous claims and disputes” This appears to be the same charge category as other Ron Pace issues, but I cannot confirm |
2009-03 page 3 |
$783.00* |
| BREAK–no documented events or legal billing | |||
| 07 May | Ron Pace threatens to come down to the district office regardless of any ban Larry Bishop has tried to enact; Larry Bishop calls 911 “in fear for his life” (his exact words) Listen to the 911 Call Read the email that caused Larry to make the call |
||
| 07 May | Eddie Avedikian reports that he is threatened by Ron Pace – determined as not credible | Finding page 27 |
|
| 07 May | The Lawyer™ reviews emails from Ron Pace and drafts protective order | 2009-06 page 1 |
$292.50 |
| 07 May | The Lawyer™ continues to draft protective order 5 pages – $128.00/page! |
2009-06 page 1 |
$640.00 |
| 08 May | The Lawyer™ files the restraining order | 2009-06 page 1 |
$390.00 |
| 08 May | The Lawyer™ arranges for the El Paso County Sheriff’s office to deliver restraining orders | 2009-06 page 4 |
$583.40 |
| 11 May | The Lawyer™ does research on the restraining order | 2009-06 page 1 |
$117.50* |
| 11 May | The Lawyer™ holds a telephone conference about Ron Pace, etc | 2009-06 page 2 |
$80.00 |
| 11 May | The Lawyer™ holds a telephone conference with Ron Pace, etc | 2009-06 page 2 |
$97.50 |
| 14 May | The Lawyer™ works on the Pace restraining order issue | 2009-06 page 2 |
$97.50 |
| 18 May | The Lawyer™ works on the Pace restraining order issue | 2009-06 page 2 |
$146.25 |
| 18 May | The Lawyer™ works on the Pace restraining order issue | 2009-06 page 2 |
$470.00 |
| 18 May | Ron Pace retains Richard Daily, LLC, as counsel; Richard Daily confers with The Lawyer™, they agree on a continuation | this document | |
| 19 May | The Lawyer™ makes a court appearance on the Pace restraining order; in glaring abrogation of the agreement with Ron Pace’s counsel, they move for default judgment |
this document |
$341.25 |
| 03 June | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace issues | 2009-07 page 1 |
$160.00* |
| 09 June | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace issues | 2009-07 page 2 |
$320.00* |
| 10 Jun | The Lawyer™ responds to J. Doherty (Ron Pace’s wife) | 2009-07 page 2 |
$117.50 |
| 15 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace issues | 2009-07 page 2 |
$800.00* |
| 15 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace issues | 2009-07 page 2 |
$42.30 |
| 17 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace issues | 2009-07 page 2 |
$480.00* |
| 25 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 3 |
$470.00 |
| 25 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$253.50 |
| 25 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$195.00 |
| 25 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$160.00 |
| 26 Jun | Ron Pace reports the theft of his son’s bicycle to the sheriff’s department, states he will be looking around the neighborhood for it…and drives within 100 yards of Daniel S. Everett’s house. Daniel S. Everett calls the Sheriff. Ron Pace is arrested. Read this post and this post Hear the 911 call In court, Daniel S. Everett states that he wasn’t afraid of Ron Pace, he just wanted him arrested. Daniel S. Everett also testifies that employees were not asked if they felt threatened by Ron Pace; they were added to the protection order by simply asking them if they wanted to be. Hear Daniel S. Everett’s court testimony |
||
| 26 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues Ron Pace’s counsel requests the permanent restraining orders be set aside, and the TROs be reinstated until they can present their case; the district refuses Read the Motion to Set Aside Read the Motion to Deny |
2009-07 page 4 |
$146.25 |
| 26 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$80.00 |
| 29 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$320.00* |
| 29 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$146.25 |
| 29 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$50.00 |
| 30 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$146.25 |
| 30 Jun | The Lawyer™ works on Ron Pace restraining order issues | 2009-07 page 4 |
$50.00 |
| TOTAL COST THROUGH JUNE 2009 | $11,657.65 | ||
We haven’t even had a single day in court at this point, other than The Lawyer™ filing the orders, and refusing to honor their agreement.
It’s interesting to note that the district explored filing restraining orders as early as January 6, 2009…but did not file until May 7, 2009. I am unsure of the reason behind the delay.
Note that the district has decided to not release any more legal bills (see this post)–so pending a judicial review, I cannot provide any more details from the district’s cost/involvement perspective. Ever wonder why – perhaps to prevent this level of scrutiny?









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