THOMAS V. JOHN W. NELLEY. JR. THOMAS C. SCOTT PETER J. STRIANSE HUGH W. ENTREKIN JOHN P. WELLIAMS ROBERT L. DELANEY GEORGE A. DEAN LESA HARTLEY SKONEY JOSEPH P. RUSNAK TODD E. PANTHER DAVJD M. BULLOCK SHAWN R. HENRY T. CHAD WHITE STEPHEN A. LUND fir lP3..fCo ATTORNEYS AT LAW SUITE 1700 315 STREET TENNESSEE 37238 (VIA MAIL AND U.S. MAIL) October 24, 2013 JOHN C. TUNE 19314983 ERVIN M. ENTREKIN 1927-1990 Mr. Jon D. Ross Neal Harwell 150 4th Avenue North, Suite 2000 Nashville, TN 372192498 Rel WTVF News Channel 5 Network, LLC Dear Joni It appears Phil Williams is planning a news story about Gloria Dumas. It appears his news story relates to her absences from the bench this year due to legitimate illness and treatment for her illness. Mr. Williams called Judge Dumas' office today and asked to speak with her. She could not speak to him because she has lost her voice. The loss of voice is' caused by her continuing health problems. Judge Dumas is willing to respond to any questions Mr. Williams has through counsel. I-Ier counsel's communication will be with you, Ron Harris or any other lawyer your firm designates to work on this matter. It appears Mr. Williams is aware Judge John Brown sits and sat specially for Judge Dumas when she was absent due to illness and medical treatment. Apparently a question has arisen about how Judge Brown was compenseterl.. As I understand it the Metropolitan Government does not ordinarily compensate Special Judges. Judge Dumas however has arranged for Judge Brown to receive on the occasions he sits or sat specially for her, the salary Judge Dumas was entitled to receive. In other words, any news story Judge Dumas has received her salary on the occasions when Judge Brown sits for her is not true or correct. We do not believe Judge Dumas' absence from the bench due to legitimate illness is a newsworthy matter especially since she has arranged for her own compensation to be paid to udge Brown. There has been no double compensation. TUNE9 ENTREKEN Jon D. Ross October 24, 2013 Page 2 of 2 nd provide information. I am rt . DeLaney I am available to discuss this matter RLD/mjr cc! Gloria Dumas (VIA EMAIL) 10/30/13 Journal Communications Mail - Request for Comment Request for Comment Phil Williams Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 6:00 PM Reply-To: To: Judge Dumas, We respectfully decline your attorney's suggestion that we should employ legal counsel to ask questions of you as an elected official. Here are our questions: 1) Can you please provide us with a detailed statement regarding your numerous absences during this calendar year? If it is due to illness, can you provide the public with whatever description of the illness with which you may feel comfortable? 2) Given the numerous absences, do you believe that you able to fulfill the duties of your office? Can you please provide us with a detailed statement on that question? 3) Have you notified the Administrative Office of the Courts or any other supervising entity of your illness and/or disability? Can you please provide us with a detailed statement regarding any such conversations and any advice that may have been provided to you? 4) Has the arrangement with Judge Brown been approved by the chief justice of the Supreme Court or any similar entity? If so, can you please provide such approval? Neal Han/veil does not represent NewsChannel 5 on this inquirv. I look forward to any response that you or your attorney may wish to send directly to me. Respectfully, Phil Williams Phil Williams Chief Investigative Reporter Newschannel 5 474 James Robertson Pkwy Nashville TN 37219 Voice: (515) 248-5390 Website: newschannei5.oom/investigates Follow me on Facebook and Twitter Email: pwilliams@newscharmel5.com pt&q 1/1 TUNE. ENTREIIKHN Peflo THOMAS ATTORNEYS AT LAW JOHN 0- TUNE JOHN W. NELLEY. JR. 1931,1933 THOMAS c, sc0Tr PETER J. STFUANSE HUGH W. ENTREKIN JOHN P. WILLIAMS ROBERT L. DELANEY GEORGE A. DEAN SUITE 1700 ERVIN M. 315 DEADERICK STREET 1927-1990 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37238 LESA HARTLEY SKONEY TEL (615) 244-2770 FAX (615) 244-2773 JOSEPH RUSNAK TODD E. PANTHER DAVID M. BULLOCK R. HENRY (VIA MAIL AND U.S. MAIL) WW5 October 30, 2013 STEPHEN A. LUND Mr. Jon D. Ross Neal Harwell 150 4th Avenue North, Suite 2000 Nashville, TN 37219-2498 Re! WTVF News Channel 5 Network, LLC Dear Joni I haven't heard from you regarding the letter I sent you on October 24, 2013. I wanted to follow*up however and provide some additional information and context. As I told you in my first letter Judge Dumas arranged for the Metropolitan Governinent to compensate Judge Brown with money allocated for her salary, that is-when he sat for her. Judge Dumas had no obligation to do this of course. She just believed it was the right thing to do. I expect there are many instances of State judges being temporarily ill or disabled for extended periods who continue to receive full salary and benefits even though someone sits specially for them. In fact, as I am sure you know, State law contemplates such circumstances. Enclosed is a breakdown through October 11, 2013 showing the portions of Judge Dumas' salary which she has received and which Judge Brown has received. I am informed by individuals familiar with the facts that Judge Brown covered 95% to 98% of Judge Dumas' absences attributable to her legitimate-illness. In some instances where she expected to be able to work, became ill, could not work and Judge Brown was unavailable her dockets were covered by regular General Sessions Judges in Davidson County. In a very few circumstances when neither Judge Brown was available nor regular General Sessions Judges, a private lawyer covered but received no compensation. With another election for an eight (8) year term approaching Judge Dumas is facing another campaign. She will only run if her health has sufficiently improved TUNE, ENTREEQIN fir WEHKTE. P.C. Jon D. Ross October 30, 2018 Page 2 of 8 so that she can actively campaign and actively serve for eight (8) more years as Judge. Again, I am available to discuss any of this. Given the circumstances of Judge Dumas' legitimate illness, and her efforts to be certain a qualified retired judge sat in her place who was compensated with her own money, I respectfully submit the ostensibly proposed news story is not a newsworthy one. Come November 2013, candidates for judicial offices in Tennessee may lawfully start raising money for campaigns next year. Judge Dumas' illness and absence from the bench have been ongoing for an extended period of time. No one has attempted to make a secret of her ill health and absence from the bench. So, respectfully the timing of WTVF, News Channel 5's "investigation" and reporting appears to some as suspect, malicious and purely designed to effect Judge Dumas' electoral circumstances adversely. If Mr. Williams does not believe Judge Dumas should continue in office, he should vote against her and encourage his friends to do so. In my opinion, he has a tremendous obligation, given his position, to be responsible in his reporting and lawful in his conduct. A news story about Judge Dumas' legitimate ill health does not meet the standard of responsibility, I have just suggested. Best regards lam RLD/gmka cci Gloria Dumas (VIA EMAIL) 3&3 9. mwmwo Hobfimom 33.3083 Dmuuaamsm nmfion omumnaman Umflm Ema um? 38% Hm. mom. dgaocmr Dnnoumw 3.. BE m3m_oKmm Iouam can mm_mDn mum Pwu 53? mnomm $022 ELOIZ v. ucuwmm mama fifihom xmmamw wawwmn 26,22 5. .512 mmnramfl Sue mowwmw E852 SL012 88 mhohouw mmnama wumwaw $022 .5. .012 v. awn mcwo mbenom wowwmw $052 .5. Biz 88 9.53083. mhbouw .u.8m.m~ mmofiz memo mbiwoww momwm>> 265.2 .5. 88 mmwmoamcfimnumamxamflnofii qmhom 0 $022 SLOIZ mowo snmhom a $022 .5. .012 v. mmo mono mhhoaw womsmm wmo?z 51.012 BB mbmhouw xwmc_m_. womfimm mmo?z mioxz 88 mxwohom wmm:_m_. womumm 2.05.2 .5. 5:2 88 mbwbofi $922 5:2 .Eammu 88 mndwom. mmwc_m.. .u.8.>mm $052 .5. .07.: mun memo S.5h8w. 9.232 <.:u4onm_ mmnaamfi Bum mmama: Hmmuon m~..m.wm uczim. m_.oa> Eumm mhhom uc.<5m. mmsm_.m_ Enmm Hmmwop mmn._cm.wmm Em wmfloa wnbom mmw:_m_. oczim. area>> ._cn_mm whmbom mmwamn oczsm. 9.35 muwm Eamm Hmmwop $3.8 oczfim. 9.82>> Emma fifibum m62> mmamfik Emma Hmflo>> enmbouw UCESM. 9.0.3.. mm_._m3_ Eamm 9.02>> mmnrammu Haw mmnmum. ._cn_mm Emma>> mwoap .mm:mE_ Eamm mhhom Nulum Eumm mhfiwom UESDM 9.025 mmnucawmm uahom 0:33. 9.02>> mm:mB_ Enmm Haw? ?585 mm? 052>> Em Emma SSE mbhom UC_<_bm. Hum ESE mhmhom wmm:_m_. H3 oczgm. 9.03>> Emma.>> mmobfiw wmm:_m_. oczsm. 9.03>> Ham. Eamm Hmmwoa mhwhom wmmamw wmfl. oczsm. Emma." xmm:_m_. was m_.oa> mm:m..m_ mmummo: Emwm xmmfimw $3 area>> mmD&mB.. mm:mB_ mPn.m_o: unmwm dmhopm mm< oczfim. 9.0 ms, mm:mB_ Emma mxdmoum wmnwo _um< mmnramm Em mmummo5._cn_mm SHE whmhouw