Secrecy suit fee stirs outrage

Cory Lake Isles revolts over the idea of paying to help keep their books closed to them.

By DONG-PHUONG NGUYEN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 14, 2007

NEW TAMPA - Doctors and lawyers, business owners and professionals live in Cory Lake Isles, an exclusive gated community known for its pristine condition and strict rules.

But Tuesday night, all decorum flew out the beach club window.

"I work too d--- hard for my money," shouted one resident. "I've been here three years now. I've had enough."

He left the meeting of the property owners association in a huff, to cheers of support.

A standing-room-only crowd of about 150 residents attended the tense, two hour meeting, many expressing anger over a flier left on their mailboxes over the weekend informing them of a possible special assessment to cover legal costs associated with a lawsuit filed by eight homeowners.

Some residents have been asking for years to see how their money is being spent - they've have paid more than $4.6-million over the last five years for maintenance and operations, the lawsuit states, but they have not seen any documentation of exactly where the money is going.

The lawsuit, brought against the property owners association, was filed last month in hopes that the developer, Gene Thomason, would produce those records.

Instead, the association, made up of members appointed by Thomason, hired Tampa attorney Philip Friedman to defend them. Friedman spent an hour fielding residents' questions, but his responses - many of them non-answers - just drew more ire.

Residents shouted over one another, piling on, prompting Friedman to cut them off. "I'd like to continue if you can remain civil," he said.

They wanted to know if they were paying for his legal fees? Who hired him? What was his defense strategy?

It was all privileged information, they were told.

"You're fired!" someone shouted from the crowd.

The lawsuit names eight residents as plaintiffs, but they have the financial backing of many others. One of them, Ron Fitzgerald, asked if he had to pay the special assessment to cover the defense if he was paying to support the lawsuit, too.

Friedman refused to answer, saying it was a legal question not directly related to the lawsuit. More boos and hisses.

Disgusted, some residents left, shouting their displeasure on their way out the door. Friedman turned the questions over to the association board, which received the same reception, hostility punctuated at times by curses and shouts.

Thomason, who sat quietly sipping a diet soda, got up at one point to consult with Friedman. He turned to the crowd: "I hate to see you involved with it," he said. "Get ready for a ride."

That only angered residents even more.

"Open the books!" they shouted.

A woman stood to ask Thomason a question. He left the building while she was still talking.

Richard Wright, who has sat on the association board for two years, finally spoke up. "I'm the stupid one," he said. "I quit."

After the meeting ended, resident Alan Parsowith just shook his head.

"It's all about truth," he said. "Everyone of these residents feel like they're being swindled."

Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at 813 269-5312 or at nguyen@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 14, 2007, 00:43:45]