Shriners on both sides of lawsuit - Oct. 24, 2009
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Quibus_Licet
Oct 24, 2009, 10:14:32 PM10/24/09
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Shriners on both sides of lawsuit
Two members of local temple sue 5 officers
By MARY FLOOD
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Oct. 24, 2009, 7:48PM
The Houston branch of the fez-wearing fraternity known for driving
tiny circus cars and supporting area Shriners children's hospitals, is
embroiled in a court dispute where the societal honorifics of
“potentate,” “high priest” and “illustrious sir” are dropped in favor
of plain “plaintiff” and “defendant.”
Two longtime members of the Arabia Shrine Temple in Houston have sued
five officers of the group alleging intentional infliction of
emotional distress, defamation, violation of due process, breach of
fiduciary duty, conspiracy and other charges.
The basic complaint is that the current leaders of the philanthropic
Freemasons brotherhood are not following internal rules or state law
when it comes to transparency in expenditures of some of the $15
million-plus obtained in the sale of their former temple at 2900 N.
Braeswood. The Meyerland-area facility sold in 2007.
The accused Shriners deny all allegations and said all money is
accounted for and was properly spent.
Joseph Zettlemoyer, a current noble and a past potentate, or chief
officer, of the local temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles
of the Mystic Shrine, and John McDonald, an assistant rabban, or
leader, of the local group, filed the lawsuit Tuesday.
A judge granted a restraining order that day ordering the group to
follow proper financial procedures and barring the Shriners from
holding a tribunal to discuss charges that Zettlemoyer
mischaracterized an e-mail when he suggested visiting Shriners not
wear their red fezzes and uniforms at a joint event.
Eric Carter, lawyer for the suing Shriners, said the fez and regalia
complaint was a ruse, and that his clients are being pushed out
because they've complained about the financial transparency.
Allegations denied
Carter stressed there is no allegation that charitable contributions
have been squandered or that funds have been misspent. He said the
concern is that leaders have not followed bylaws in making financial
decisions and have kept documents and computer files secret even from
internal financial advisors.
“My guys asked questions and were brought up on charges,” Carter said.
He said the heart of the matter isn't concern about regalia, it's
worry about secrecy and control. He said his clients cannot discuss
the case.
Carter said 11 former potentates of the organization wrote to the
national umbrella group with the same concerns and were ignored.
“After that letter things started getting tacky,” Carter said. “This
is a chartered nonprofit group, and they are trying to throw two guys
out who've been in it for 30 or 40 years.”
Kenneth Aldridge, the current local potentate, or leader, said the
group denies the allegations in the lawsuit, no funds are unaccounted
for and there was no unauthorized spending.
He said the judge who issued the restraining order hadn't heard their
side and was even given incorrect information on the domestic
fraternal society's tax status. Another hearing on the matter is
scheduled for later this month.
“The finances of the Arabian Shrine are audited on an annual basis and
available to members and the public with reasonable notice,” said
Aldridge, one of the five people accused in the lawsuit.
Dates to 19th century
The Shriners are a group of advanced-level Freemasons organized for
philanthropy and fun. It was started in the 1870s in New York.
The group has rites and costumes that include the well-known red fez
with a black tassel.
Several U.S. presidents have been Shriners, including Gerald Ford,
Harry Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In Houston, the group meets at a building it calls a temple, though
it's not a religious group, at Harwin near the Beltway.
The group supports the Shriners children's hospitals in Galveston and
Houston, although it is legally separate from them.
The Shriners' local circus for children is held in the spring at the
Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, featuring animals, acrobats and, of
course, clown cars.
mary....@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6684507.html
Two members of local temple sue 5 officers
By MARY FLOOD
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Oct. 24, 2009, 7:48PM
The Houston branch of the fez-wearing fraternity known for driving
tiny circus cars and supporting area Shriners children's hospitals, is
embroiled in a court dispute where the societal honorifics of
“potentate,” “high priest” and “illustrious sir” are dropped in favor
of plain “plaintiff” and “defendant.”
Two longtime members of the Arabia Shrine Temple in Houston have sued
five officers of the group alleging intentional infliction of
emotional distress, defamation, violation of due process, breach of
fiduciary duty, conspiracy and other charges.
The basic complaint is that the current leaders of the philanthropic
Freemasons brotherhood are not following internal rules or state law
when it comes to transparency in expenditures of some of the $15
million-plus obtained in the sale of their former temple at 2900 N.
Braeswood. The Meyerland-area facility sold in 2007.
The accused Shriners deny all allegations and said all money is
accounted for and was properly spent.
Joseph Zettlemoyer, a current noble and a past potentate, or chief
officer, of the local temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles
of the Mystic Shrine, and John McDonald, an assistant rabban, or
leader, of the local group, filed the lawsuit Tuesday.
A judge granted a restraining order that day ordering the group to
follow proper financial procedures and barring the Shriners from
holding a tribunal to discuss charges that Zettlemoyer
mischaracterized an e-mail when he suggested visiting Shriners not
wear their red fezzes and uniforms at a joint event.
Eric Carter, lawyer for the suing Shriners, said the fez and regalia
complaint was a ruse, and that his clients are being pushed out
because they've complained about the financial transparency.
Allegations denied
Carter stressed there is no allegation that charitable contributions
have been squandered or that funds have been misspent. He said the
concern is that leaders have not followed bylaws in making financial
decisions and have kept documents and computer files secret even from
internal financial advisors.
“My guys asked questions and were brought up on charges,” Carter said.
He said the heart of the matter isn't concern about regalia, it's
worry about secrecy and control. He said his clients cannot discuss
the case.
Carter said 11 former potentates of the organization wrote to the
national umbrella group with the same concerns and were ignored.
“After that letter things started getting tacky,” Carter said. “This
is a chartered nonprofit group, and they are trying to throw two guys
out who've been in it for 30 or 40 years.”
Kenneth Aldridge, the current local potentate, or leader, said the
group denies the allegations in the lawsuit, no funds are unaccounted
for and there was no unauthorized spending.
He said the judge who issued the restraining order hadn't heard their
side and was even given incorrect information on the domestic
fraternal society's tax status. Another hearing on the matter is
scheduled for later this month.
“The finances of the Arabian Shrine are audited on an annual basis and
available to members and the public with reasonable notice,” said
Aldridge, one of the five people accused in the lawsuit.
Dates to 19th century
The Shriners are a group of advanced-level Freemasons organized for
philanthropy and fun. It was started in the 1870s in New York.
The group has rites and costumes that include the well-known red fez
with a black tassel.
Several U.S. presidents have been Shriners, including Gerald Ford,
Harry Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In Houston, the group meets at a building it calls a temple, though
it's not a religious group, at Harwin near the Beltway.
The group supports the Shriners children's hospitals in Galveston and
Houston, although it is legally separate from them.
The Shriners' local circus for children is held in the spring at the
Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, featuring animals, acrobats and, of
course, clown cars.
mary....@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6684507.html
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