... may not be such a bad idea, Archie, for more reasons than you know.

>> In speaking with an anonymous source this afternoon, perhaps the real solution
>> is that maybe the club should not even have gotten involved with this matter and
>> instead simply should have turned it over to law enforcement to deal with.

When I commenced this inquiry, it was not obvious that there was potentially criminal conduct involved. There would have been no reason to turn it over to law enforcement at that point.

>> Perhaps the club Claims Director's duties should be re-defined to only encompass
>> unsatisfactory transactions between club members who are bringing claims against
>> each other to resolve disputes ...

I don't fault you for this Archie, but that observation is a prime example of why it is imperative that more information be made available to club members. I agree, as I have said before, that there are certain aspects of my report which should remain confidential.

On the other hand, to use your words, this entire inquiry does "... encompass unsatisfactory transactions between club members who are bringing claims against each other to resolve disputes." In fact, that's precisely what it is.

>> ... rather than investigating potential criminal mischief between un-named parties
>> the club doesn't know anything about... which may or may not occur at a later date.

Which is exactly the point I have been trying to make, over and over, during the past three days ... and which, by the way, was in no way part of either my investigation or my report.

My inquiry was with respect to past conduct between club members engaged in the buying and selling of chips. It does not involve "unnamed parties the club doesn't know anything about." All the concern about what might happen in the future has been generated here on the boards in what I believe to be a totally misguided discussion that has nothing to do with what I have determined.

The club, of course, can define the claims director's duties any way it sees fit.

But, for those who don't know, I have practiced criminal law for more than 20 years. I have personally conducted and or supervised investigations into serious felony crimes, including gang crimes, police brutality and kidnapping by a police officer under color of authority, official corruption (accepting bribes and embezzlement of public funds), child molestation, kidnapping for robbery, attempted murder and attempted murder of a police officer. For ten years, I represented the prosecution's key witness in a three defendant capital murder case (the killing of a San Quentin prison guards by an inmate gang).

Though I can't predict the future and therefore did not concern myself with what some unknown third person might to at some unknown time in the future, I think a know past criminal conduct when I see it. I also have a pretty good idea what constitutes sufficient evidence to prove it.

----- jim o\-S