Damon responds to John's request for disclosure on legal fees paid on behalf of STRS employees who hired their own attorneys

From John Curry

Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006

Subject: The Response from Damon Asbury re. attorney fees payment

While reading Damon's response, one should understand that the STRS already has available a staff attorney available for these same legal services and at no cost available to those on staff to use in a circumstance such as the one below. Why should we retirees (and active teachers) pay for outside attorney representation? It should also be noted that not all the Board agreed to paying these expenditures and that some of these fees were paid before the Board even had a chance to vote upon the payment of these expenditures. When will it end? John Curry

From Damon Asbury

Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006

Subject: RE: Information

Dear John:

Pursuant to your request for information, the following expenditures have been made:

Reimbursement to Mary Ellen Grant for legal services in connection with her testimony in the Hazel Sidaway trial. $900

2. Reimbursement to Steven Ehlers for legal services in connection with his testimony in the Hazel Sidaway trial. $500

Both of these associates were reimbursed for legal expenses they incurred while assisting the Ohio Ethics Commission and the Columbus City Attorney’s office in the prosecution of former Board member Hazel Sidaway. Ms. Grant and Mr. Ehlers were asked to provide testimony concerning the details of a real estate trip made to New York City in 2003 by some STRS Ohio staff and board members. Ms. Grant and Mr. Ehlers were in attendance for some portions of that particular trip.

No reimbursement has yet been made to Eileen Boles as she has not yet submitted a final tally of the time spent in providing and explaining relevant documents and actions in the Sidaway prosecution and other investigations. However, the Board approved an amount not to exceed $6000.

Damon Asbury