RELATED CONVERSATIONS:
BLOG ARCHIVES:
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
RECENTLY ON TOL:
TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
TAGS:
Getting Sizemore Straighter
Some corrections are in order to my earlier blog post about Bill Sizemore, lawsuits, and the Oregon Education Association. Sizemore took issue with my leaving the question of his personal liability open in a case stemming from 2002. He is correct that the Oregon Supreme Court did not remand the issue in its 2008 ruling. As I understand it now, the Court let stand an Appeals Court ruling that, among other things, resulted in Sizemore not being held personally responsible for $2.5 million.
I also incorrectly wrote the Supreme Court upheld the liability of Sizemore's two organizations: the Oregon Taxpayers United Political Action Committee and the Oregon Taxpayers United Education Foundation. Only one, the foundation, was found liable for the $2.5 million. By then, the organization was defunct. The OEA has continued to try to recover money through a series of court actions, pursuing new organizations Sizemore is affiliated with as well as him personally.
In addition, over the past couple of years, new lawsuits have been filed. The OEA and the American Federation of Teachers are now seeking $18 million from Sizemore and his biggest financial backer for alleged mishandling of funds around initiative petitions. Sizemore is seeking $12 million from the OEA, the SEIU and others. You can continue to follow developments on their websites: the OEA's here and Bill Sizemore's here.
Another correction: On the program, we said Bill Sizemore is facing court charges of tax evasion and fraud. He is only facing charges of tax evasion. He has pled not guilty. According to the Oregon Department of Justice, a hearing is set for August.
We regret the mistakes.
