So, who IS the university attorney?

Date: Apr 13, 2004

So, who IS the university attorney?

Date: Apr 13, 2004

Lee Gore is the university attorney. All indications are that the president does not consult with him. Hanbury and Gore probably have little to do with each other. Lee Gore is a man of integrity who is respected by the faculty.

Date: Apr 13, 2004

Thanks for raising an issue that bothered me. I wondered where Lee Gore was in all this. Was he present at the May 5 meeting? Has he made any statements about matters at hand? And, if he really works for the state and not the University, will his treatment not call down some scrutiny from the AG's office? Who pays his salary?

This whole business of side-stepping normal hiring procedures, using faculty pay-lines to fund appointed positions, etc. etc. just absolutely reeks, and needs a lot more public scrutiny. Are you listening, HA?

Date: Apr 13, 2004

Pardon, the MARCH 5 meeting.

Date: Apr 13, 2004

Lee Gore had no knowledge of the March 5 terminations. He was not consulted. Of course, neither were the provost, dean, or respective department chairs.

Date: Apr 14, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Flash Gordon
"Lee Gore is the university attorney. All indications are that the president does not consult with him. Hanbury and Gore probably have little to do with each other. Lee Gore is a man of integrity who is respected by the faculty."

Yes, so I've heard. This being the case and if it is true that Shelby tried to fire him and the AG said he couldn't, isn't there a direct line of communication to the AG to investigate all of the rumored malfeasance?

Date: Apr 25, 2004

This is an old thread but there's some issues that keep puzzling me about the Lee Gore/Jack Hanbury university counsel relationship.

If I understand this correctly, Lee Gore is the University Counsel who reports to the state Attorney General and represents the University. Jack Hanbury is the Risk Manager and NOT the University Counsel. Hanbury reports to Shelby. (Presumably represents Shelby? Advises Shelby but has no official representation of him? Difficult to understand...a bit like Lisa Mader's official title - is it "spokesperson for the President" as opposed to "spokesperson for the university"? Someone brought that up on another thread.) The University Counsel's notes related to the Glamser/Stringer case would probably be protected but the Risk Manager's may not be. Can Hanbury be FOIA'd for all notes and communication regarding the investigation, suspension, and proposed terminations of Drs. Glamser and Stringer? Dome staff watch the shredders!

I know of another situation where a legal advisor had to stop taking notes in meetings about an employee because this particular lawyer was not the counsel of record and, therefore, not protected by attorney/client privilage, and not exempt from FOIA requests.

This is a legal question beyond my realm and I know it's very late in the game. I also know, however, that there are a number of lawyers in Mississippi and elsewhere following this closely. Several to whom I have spoken are concerned about the university counsel's silence and the peculiar role of the risk manager.

There was an interesting thread last week that questioned Dvorak practicing law in Mississippi before he passed the MS Bar but I chose to bump this one up instead because of the University Attorney questions.

Date: Apr 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Law Buff
"This is an old thread but there's some issues that keep puzzling me about the Lee Gore/Jack Hanbury university counsel relationship. If I understand this correctly, Lee Gore is the University Counsel who reports to the state Attorney General and represents the University. Jack Hanbury is the Risk Manager and NOT the University Counsel. Hanbury reports to Shelby. (Presumably represents Shelby? Advises Shelby but has no official representation of him? Difficult to understand...a bit like Lisa Mader's official title - is it "spokesperson for the President" as opposed to "spokesperson for the university"? Someone brought that up on another thread.) The University Counsel's notes related to the Glamser/Stringer case would probably be protected but the Risk Manager's may not be. Can Hanbury be FOIA'd for all notes and communication regarding the investigation, suspension, and proposed terminations of Drs. Glamser and Stringer? Dome staff watch the shredders! I know of another situation where a legal advisor had to stop taking notes in meetings about an employee because this particular lawyer was not the counsel of record and, therefore, not protected by attorney/client privilage, and not exempt from FOIA requests. This is a legal question beyond my realm and I know it's very late in the game. I also know, however, that there are a number of lawyers in Mississippi and elsewhere following this closely. Several to whom I have spoken are concerned about the university counsel's silence and the peculiar role of the risk manager. There was an interesting thread last week that questioned Dvorak practicing law in Mississippi before he passed the MS Bar but I chose to bump this one up instead because of the University Attorney questions."

Hanbury works for the University, therefore he is legal counsel --- it at all --- for the University, not Shelby. The word is that SFT doesn't involve Lee Gore in anything that isn't absolutely necessary. Hanbury is his advisor in most things legal, although Gore must sign off on legal documents for the University.

Date: Apr 26, 2004

It's going to take a lot more knowledge of law than I have to determine whether Hanbury is a legal counsel to the university, etc.

The problem with university spokespeople in general is that officially they speak for the university, but in reality they speak for the president. The more candid among them will admit that this is their job, but you won't see it in their official job description.

Some things Lisa Mader has said are unusually partisan. The "just makes me sick" comment, about the Faculty Senate's alleged maltreatment of Angie Dvorak, would be considered unprofessional by many of Mader's counterparts.

Robert Campbell

Date: Apr 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
" Some things Lisa Mader has said are unusually partisan. The "just makes me sick" comment, about the Faculty Senate's alleged maltreatment of Angie Dvorak, would be considered unprofessional by many of Mader's counterparts. "

Unusually partisan? Oh, how I wish I could share the very breathy "thiiiiis maaahnn" story...but I can't...sorry! Maybe someone else who was there remembers? Talk about making one sick!!!