Status Conference On Bush Group's Appeal Of California EDD Decision

I attended a status conference in Los Angeles Superior Court this morning on the Bush group's appeal of the California EDD decision awarding unemployment benefits to Fr Kelley. Fr Kelley made the claim based on his termination as rector of St Mary of the Angels by the Bush group after they seized the property. The Bush group alleged that Fr Kelley had stolen funds from the parish. Administrative judges repeatedly ruled that there was no evidence for this allegation, and Fr Kelley was finally awarded full benefits. Even after Fr Kelley was paid, the Bush group has continued its appeal.

With the continued delay of the Bush group's appeal of Judge Strobel's 2015 decision, Lancaster & Anastasia, the Bush group's attorneys, have continually asked the court in the appeal of this EDD case to delay sessions pending the outcome of the appeal of that case. In this morning's status conference, Mr Anastasia simply requested that the judge move the case forward another six months, to December 6. The EDD agreed.

It's worth pointing out that although Fr Kelley is a "party of interest" in the case, the Bush group is actually suing the California Employment Development Department. Thus neither the parish nor Fr Kelley is directly involved, but Mrs Bush is apparently continuing to pay Lancaster & Anastasia for the appeal.

In the continuing appeal of the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry cases, however, Fr Kelley passed on that Lancaster & Anastasia filed a notice of attorney substitution. Apparently Tyler Andrews is now representing the Bush group in the appeal of the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry decision by Judge Strobel. Fr Kelley is not aware of how this affects Lancaster & Anastasia's involvement, although it appears that Mrs Bush became unhappy with Mr Lancaster following Judge Murphy's December 2016 award of summary judgment against the Bush group.

Briefs for the Bush group's appeal of Judge Strobel's 2015 decision are due May 25. Observers are increasingly wondering if Lancaster & Anastasia are being paid, and how Mrs Bush proposes to pay the new Mr Andrews.