Lawyer wants judge to divvy up NAACP funds

Lawyer wants judge to divvy up NAACP funds

Lewellen: ‘ If that money is going into personal pockets, I want a judge to say it’

news@theeveningtimes.com

So, the check is not in the mail.

That’s the news for the Crittenden County NAACP from its attorney of six years, Roy Lewellen. The local group sued the national organization for interfering with the local officers’ election. The matter was finally settled in favor of the county group, and the $117,000 award check sent to the lawyer.

Lewellen, who has concerns about what would happen to the funds once it goes to the county group, is hanging onto the funds and has asked the court to allocate the funds. “As far as the distribution, my concern is simple,” said Lewellen. “There was some suggestion about how they wanted to distribute this money among themselves.

It is not appropriate that all the money be split up among three or four people. I disagree. The money actually belongs to the chapter.

This person getting ‘X’ amount of money and that person getting $60,000 — some of the people I had never seen before and don’t know who they are or never knew them to participate or anything else. If that money is going into personal pockets, I want a judge to say it.”

Lewellen wanted direct contact with all the members and said he was stonewalled from getting the list.

“I’d like to see a board meeting with all the members, not just the three people that said ‘give us the $117,000,’” said Lewellen.

Who are the members? No one knows who all the members are. Nobody wants to share. A notice should be sent to all the members, which I think is the right thing. These people are members of the chapter and deserve to be kept informed.”

County NAACP President Shabaka Afrika said the group had been informed and that Lewellen was spinning a false narrative.

“We e-mailed our members and then sent it to them by mail,” said Afrika The attorney said he had worked hard and needed more remuneration. His fee is $250 per-hour.

“The appeal is the most expensive part of it,” said Lewellen. “I’ve printed appeal and response briefs with thousand-page exhibits, addendums, and have to be prepared and 25 copies of the record have to be filed. I have not been awarded any attorney fees for the over two years I spent on the appeals. The court may grant some or they may say my client is responsible.”

What is the status of the award check? Lewellen of- fered warm sentiment toward the group members but said the court should decide allocation of the award.

“I filed a motion to put the money in the courts,” said Lewellen. “The county chapter is sweet people.

But, where is the board?

These are the folks wanting to put the money in their pocket. The people that sent me the letter are the people that want to keep the $117,000 for themselves.”

Lewellen filed in Circuit Judge Tonya Alexander’s court, as she succeeded the retired Judge Victor Hill, who first heard the case.

“Once we get a scheduling order as to where the money will be placed, then I’ll notify the county NAACP and they can tell the court they don’t want to do that,” said Lewellen.

“The right thing to do is let the judge make decisions.

My interest is the branch and to protect the members of the Crittenden County NAACP that they are not victimized.”

Lewellen addressed the kerfuffle with the local group.

“I’ve been practicing law a long time and have my own integrity to protect” said Lewellen. “To say that I’m not doing something proper is wrong.”

Chapter President Shabaka Afrika said that is exactly the crux of the matter.

“That check was court ordered with no preconditions,” said Afrika.

“Lewellen asked us to have a press conference announcing the settlement.

He said if you don’t, I will.

Channel 3 asked me if we had the money and I said the lawyer hadn’t given it to us. Then he sent me a text saying, dumb move.”

That’s when the breakdown in communication began and Afrika was surprised that Lewellen decided to cloak himself in integrity.

“He has three ethics violations against him,” Afrika alleged. “I didn’t know we were dealing with someone this bad, but I never checked into him. So my message to people is before you hire an attorney, check these people out with the board that governs their profession.”

The president felt Lewellen had fabricated the false scenario that just a few people would wind up with the money. In fact, according

to Afrika, the group

has engaged a consultant specializing in non-profit organizations to make sure they follow the law and do the right things with the money as far as the group and the community are concerned.

“He is being specious,” said Afrika. “We challenged him about some things. The branch wrote Lewellen and we ordered him as our attorney to deliver the $117,000 check.

He mentioned several times that if the group could not comply with his preconditions to his satisfaction he’d give the check to Tonya (Judge Alexander).”

By John Rech