---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Joel Lourie <joellourie@gmail.

com>
Date: Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 1:35 PM
Subject: FW: Quorum Article
To: tarapetitt@gmail.com

From: Joel Lourie [mailto:joellourie@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 1:34 PM
To: 'David Stringer'
Cc: 'Beth Bernstein'; 'James Smith'
Subject: RE: Quorum Article

David
Looks pretty plain to me.
Joel

From: David Stringer <HR@rcrc.state.sc.us>

Sent: Monday, July 25, 2016 12:37 PM
To: Ronald Aiken
Cc: Tara M Dickerson
Subject: RE: Send data from MFP11238889 07/21/2016 11:02

Ron,

Here is the info you needed for Robinson McFadden & Moore. We used them for various Bond issues,
contract review, leases, property purchases, etc. (not employment issues).

The expenses for McNair and Savitz were from the RCRC budget. We normally spend about $14,000 a
year for employment legal expenses but all these frivolous lawsuits have put a strain on our budget. For
2015/2016 the budget was $15,000 and 2016/2017 the budget is $20,000.

We use outside attorneys since we do not have an attorney on staff.

David

From: David Stringer [mailto:HR@rcrc.state.sc.us]

Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 9:39 AM
To: Joel Lourie
Cc: Beth Bernstein; 'James Smith'
Subject: RE: Quorum Article

Joel,

I will add Date of Hire and Date of Last Pay Increase to the information we provide. Relatives of Board
Members are Robert Davis (Ms. Green) and Charles Duckett (Ms. Green). I will add them. The relatives
of James A. Browns girlfriend are Calvin McDonald, Jr. and Calvin McDonald, Sr. I will add them also.

RCRC has asked for a meeting with County Council to discuss the audit and cash flow. As of today,
nothing has been drafted regarding furloughs. Right after that Quorum article - Mike Kelly advised
that I not talk to the media to avoid getting misquoted.

Talk to you soon,

David

From: Joel Lourie [mailto:joellourie@gmail.com]

Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 9:00 PM
To: David Stringer
Cc: Beth Bernstein; 'James Smith'
Subject: RE: Quorum Article

David
In addition to the info you provided below, we would like to see the following:

1.

Date of hire.

2.

Last pay increase

Note, we want to see this for any of his family members and family members of the board. Since you
have referenced Mr. Bryants sisters boyfriend, I would ask that you include information on relatives of
Mr. James A. Browns girlfriend that work or have been employed by the commission over the last 24
months. Also, in the Quorum article of July 26, you are quoted as suggesting that the lawsuits are
frivolous. I hope you were misquoted as I dont believe those are comments appropriate for an HR
Director who is supposed to have the trust and confidence of the employees.

Today Ron Aiken tweeted that the Commission is considering a furlough and that County Council
believes that the funds are available to avoid such action. Will the Commission be presenting before
County Council to clarify this important issue?

Thank you as we look forward to getting the full response to our FOI request.
Joel Lourie

From: David Stringer [mailto:HR@rcrc.state.sc.us]

Sent: Friday, August 12, 2016 6:44 PM
To: Joel Lourie (joellourie@gmail.com)
Subject: FW: Quorum Article

Joel

Sorry I did not see that I did not copy you on this until just now. I will list the Original Date of Hire also.
Is this enough information for #3 on the request? I will list this info for each family member.

Happy Sabbath!

David

From: David Stringer

Sent: Friday, August 12, 2016 6:01 PM
To: 'Beth Bernstein'
Subject: RE: Quorum Article

Beth,

Hi Beth! I am Doing well. I Was actually working on the request just now and had a question.
On the question regarding relatives. Here is an example:

Employee Name
Promotion Date

Starting Salary
Starting Title
Pay at Promotion
Current Pay as of August 1, 2016

James Brown, III

Director 11/3/2010

$14,265
$110,000

Latest

Assistant Recreation Center

$151,800

Does that give enough information? I will give this information for Mr. Brown and then each of his
relatives...

Thanks, David

From: Beth Bernstein [mailto:Beth@bblawsc.com]

Sent: Friday, August 12, 2016 5:52 PM
To: David Stringer
Cc: Joel Lourie
Subject: RE: Quorum Article

David,

Thank you for your note. Although I appreciate the invitation to review the attorney invoices in person,
Ill just wait to review them when we get the FOIA request back. At a later date, I would welcome the
opportunity to tour the office and meet some employees.

I hope you are doing well.

Best,

Representative Beth Bernstein

SC House of Represenatives
1019 Assembly Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Office: 803.799.7900 ext. 102
Fax: 803.799.7996
Email: beth@bblawsc.com
Website: www.beth4house.com

From: David Stringer [HR@rcrc.state.sc.us]

Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 11:08 AM
To: beth@beth4house.com
Cc: Joel Lourie (joellourie@gmail.com)
Subject: FW: Quorum Article

Beth,

In light of the news articles from yesterday, I wanted to be clear about the information Ms. Green sent
you previously. Ms. Green was responding to the question are the claims (lawsuits) being handled
through the IRF? The IRF covers the cost of defending lawsuits. I am attaching the information RCRC
provided to the quorum regarding attorney expenses (from their FOIA request). The amount we paid in
additional expenses had previously been published - $35,278.25 in fees to Linda Edwards to investigate
Ms. Fripp James complaint. (although the plaintiff has said in the press nothing was done about her
complaint). The names of most of the individuals Ms. Edwards interviewed were given to her by Mr.
Cromer. The investigator, Ms. Edwards presented her findings to the Board and our attorney Rick
Morgan. The Board nor the Commission have a copy of the report. This is intentional to protect the
names and testimony of the individuals she interviewed. Ms. Edwards is not involved in defending the
lawsuits. Aside from the fees paid to Linda Edwards in this fiscal year, we paid $53,572.50 to McNair. I
explained to Joel that those expenses relate to things such as South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
(SHAC) and EEOC responses, policy review, FOIA review and grievances but a majority of the fees were
again related to Ms. Fripp James complaint.

In addition, we use Robinson McFadden to review leases, land purchases etc. - most of which - are
related to and charged to the 50M Bond project not the budget. Their fees were $16,756.83 in the past
fiscal year.

Also, the agency has a $15,000 pre-paid legal policy that covers lawsuits against individual employees
within the scope of their employment. To this date nothing has been reimbursed to individuals for
personal attorney fees related to the lawsuits - as our Finance department continues to delay it even
though the IRF has confirmed the coverage.

Finally with regard to nepotism, the quorums article was inaccurate regarding family relationships. And
the salary information was a little misleading as some of the employees are hourly paid summer camp
counselors who only work during the summer and do not make a salary at all. We will be putting
together accurate information per your FOIA request. Also, just to let you know from the prior
administration Mr. Bryants sister works here full-time as well as a sisters boyfriend. And Mr. Lewis
sister works here full-time. Lewis brother resigned last Friday to go back to school. Fripps god-son
worked as a camp counselor. We have always used direct reporting as rule regarding nepotism.
Another plaintiff received $42,000 in raises in two years by her supervisor (Bryant) who court
documents allege she had a relationship with.

I welcome you to come by our Parklane office to review attorney invoices. I have copies of all of them
back to 2012. This will give you a chance to tour our office and meet some of the employees. Please let
me know of any questions or concerns.

Thank you, David

From: David Stringer

Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2016 5:04 PM
To: Joel Lourie (joellourie@gmail.com)
Subject: Quorum Article

Joel,

I know that you probably already know this but once a lawsuit is filed, the IRF takes over paying the
cost. Prior to that there may be legal expenses related to answering SHAC charges, grievances etc. RCRC

gets legal advice and pays legal expenses regarding many issues related to leases and land purchases
(for the bond which dont come out of the general budget), contracts, policies as well as employee
related matters. We did spend quite a bit on Linda Edwards investigation but wanted to allow a
thorough investigation. Prior to this last fiscal year we had been spending about $14,000 a year on legal
expenses so that is why our budget was $15,000.

RCRC has never been to court or lost any lawsuits. The IRF has chosen to settle claims rather than
fighting them in court. Three that were settled in 2012 were related to a 2009 reduction in force that
was necessary when our budget was cut.

David