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Student Association plans to ask governor to help with outstanding legal fees
By Savannah Hunnicutt
“As long as there's no private account, SA has no money, and there's no way they can collect on any of this” – SA President Tyler Draheim
The Student Association (SA) is in the process of writing a letter to Governor Jim Doyle to ask for his help with the $11,875 in outstanding legal fees a law firm is trying to collect, says SA President Tyler Draheim.
Draheim, in an e-mail to the Post, said he wants to ask Gov. Doyle for help and resources. UW System Policy F50 prohibits the use of segregated fees for legal services unless authorized by the governor.
The law firm of Schmidt Rupke Tess-Mattner & Fox, S.C. sent the SA a letter on September 9 demanding payment and purportedly threatening legal action. The firm has not yet filed a lawsuit, according to online court records.
In 2006, the SA hired the firm as legal counsel when UWM officials shut down the SA office amidst an investigation into potential embezzlement. That investigation eventually lead to former SA President Russ Rueden being charged with misdemeanor theft. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in August to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.
In an interview on Panther Talk Live in September, Draheim said the firm cannot collect any private money, because the SA no longer has a private account.
“As long as there's no private account, SA has no money, and there's no way they can collect on any of this,” said Draheim.
Schmidt Rupke Tess-Mattner & Fox, S.C. have declined comment on the situation.
Jonathan Anderson contributed to this report.
> Comments
Hahaha on Oct 13, 2008 at 05:08 PM:
But I thought SA was independent of the State?!?!
SAer on Oct 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM:
We are... But we do allocate segregated fees, which are levied by the state and have strict guidelines (like we can't pay for a lawsuit with them). Getting the governor (who has to approve legal expenses regarding seg. fees) to back this policy up would basically shut down the law firm's attempt to take us to court.
Diamond Jim Dolye on Oct 13, 2008 at 08:50 PM:
I'll authorize you to use all the students' hard-earned money for an attorney if you save a chunk of it for my campaign! Yee-ha!
So.. on Oct 13, 2008 at 08:52 PM:
So you admit that the SA is actually a state actor? And not an entity that does not have to abide by state laws and the like?
Asinine One on Oct 14, 2008 at 04:17 PM:
Gov. Doyle is behind this WHOLE thing. Just ask Russaroo the Russellmania!
Response to "So..." on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:16 PM:
absolutely not.
Friends of Rueden on Oct 13, 2008 at 11:42 PM:
This all sounds quite "fiscally responsible." USV people fuck up and try to spend money that doesn't exist to cover up massive embezzlement by one of their friends.
TaxPayer on Oct 14, 2008 at 12:05 AM:
Why should TaxPayers Bail out SA?
Spirit of Thomas Paine on Oct 14, 2008 at 07:57 AM:
Everyone open your word processors and send your stance on this to Diamond Jim!
Re: Taxpayer on Oct 14, 2008 at 10:17 AM:
That's what our "fiscally responsible" conservative student government sees as a solution...taxing the state government for their mistakes.
Re: Taxpayer on Oct 14, 2008 at 10:17 AM:
That's what our "fiscally responsible" conservative student government sees as a solution...taxing the state government for their mistakes.
Who you should thank on Oct 14, 2008 at 01:02 PM:
You should really be thanking this skechy law firm for forcing the student government to ask the governor for funds. Tyler has not other choice. The law firm didn't represent Russ Rueden or have anything to do with defending him. You should get your facts straight before you point fingers.
Why? on Oct 14, 2008 at 03:44 PM:
Why does Gov. Doyle's office have no idea about this?
Does SA even know what they are doing?>
Wait a sec... on Oct 14, 2008 at 06:56 PM:
"Getting the governor (who has to approve legal expenses regarding seg. fees) to back this policy up would basically shut down the law firm's attempt to take us to court."
If this is in fact the case. Both SUFC and USV can fuck themselves. By using permissible segregated fees to pay this debt, you are still passing the buck on to the student body for crimes of years past.
Anyone who supports this move should be impeached.
FUCKSA@UWM.EDU on Oct 14, 2008 at 06:58 PM:
someone should take the SA to court...
I'd enjoy seeing you scumbags get your ass handed to you.
Raja M.I. Khan on Oct 14, 2008 at 07:13 PM:
I can see now how much loyalty the UWM student body has for it's Student Association. NONE. That is really disturbing. I bet the only people who are bashing the SA are the ones that lost the election last semester, what was the name of their party, was it ASAP?? Oh yeah, that's right, they lost. Get over it!!
No SA Bailout! on Oct 14, 2008 at 10:42 PM:
Yes.. that is correct, clearly pointing out inept leadership and the rather embarrassing fact that our SA has to be bailed out by the State, we should never ever get angry at our representatives, is that correct?
Why be loyal to an organization that is clearly rudderless, this current crop isn't corrupt, not by any means, but rather they don't know what the hell they are doing.
So why be loyal? are you pleased by the SA Bailout?
Pundit on Oct 15, 2008 at 04:30 PM:
Given the state of the economy these days, your choice of bosses pretty much falls into two camps: 1) Machiavellian mastermind who will find a way to own your soul, or 2) Pointy-haired baboon who utters inane commands. I’m partial to the baboon.
Michelle R. English on Oct 16, 2008 at 03:16 PM:
Has anyone outside the SA spoken with the law firm about perhaps writing off the fees they want to assess, or coming up with some other viable solution? Rather than trying to a) fight with them over whether or not they can force the university to let them use funds they cannot use for personal expenditure, or b) run to the Governor's office, has ANYONE met with these lawyers, and actually had a coherent consultation with them attempting to work out a solution? Why doesn't the SA ask the law firm to sue the MEMBERS of the SA that hired them in the first place, rather than the current SA? Our current administration is not responsible for the misconduct of previous years, but unfortunately, it is up to them to find a solution to the consequences.
Govt. Bailouts on Oct 16, 2008 at 03:40 PM:
Government bailouts = Socialism. BADDDDDD
If.. on Oct 16, 2008 at 03:41 PM:
If SA gets bailed out, will the economy go up!?
What?!?!? on Oct 16, 2008 at 04:27 PM:
What?!?! Members of the SA do something reasonable and logical?!?!!?
Wait a sec... on Oct 16, 2008 at 10:20 PM:
I bet both SUFC and USV fucked you :-P