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.Figure 6 – The clinic and office and all their contents were soaked and shuffled by a 28-foot tidal surge and lingering high wate

Where would WRANPS receive a 28 foot tidal surge in the wood located at Pass  Christian, MS?
 

So, now you no how your government works, it doesn't!

wranps loss of grants

wranpsisrebuilding

WRANPS NO MORE

TIDELANDS CRITICISM ON RISE PEER FAVORS PRESERVATION SPENDING

MISSISSIPPI SECRETARY OF STATE

I was hired to finish a building that was built by New Orleans friends of WRANPS; i.e., Marilyn McQueary and Robin Berry. These friends volunteered their labor over a period of weekends. My job was to place a privacy fence around the building, wire the building for electrical power, finish the inside walls and ceiling, build cabinets and a counter. I hired a crew of two construction workers and began the work. Marilyn McQueary gave me a key to the building so the work could get started. I ordered and paid for the construction materials from West Building Materials in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The project, initially simple tasks, soon became constant changes and add-ons that were different from the originally agreed on contractual work. I told both Marilyn McQueary and Robin Berry that changes would increase the cost of the material and labor of the job. They acknowledged this, and the program progressed. Either Marilyn or Robin would tell the crew or me what they wanted, and the material would be purchased at West Building Materials. They praised the work being done. Either one or both of them were on the job site every day watching the work.

The crew was also asked to perform work beyond the original oral contract. They built and repaired large birdcages inside the privacy fence area. The electrician I hired, Gary Frank, a Master Electrician, was to wire the building and performed his work as requested by Marilyn McQueary and Robin Berry. He also performed extra work on materials added to the project and was to complete his part of the project on a Saturday.

On Friday night prior to the Saturday completion date, I received a phone call from Bill McQueary who stated that discrepancies were found at the job site, for my crew and me not to return to the job site, and for me to turn in my key to the building. He also stated that Marilyn McQueary, Robin Berry and himself had already contacted their attorney, Reilly Morse, who would be getting in touch with me. Since I was not allowed to return to the job site, all of my tools which were left at the job site were in effect confiscated by WRANPS.

This project began in 1991, and it is now 1999. I have to date not been reimbursed one penny of the $7,790 I spent on labor and materials for the project. This does not include any profit, sales tax, or the confiscated tools. I have been trying to get the people and agencies listed above to help me bring this to a fair conclusion. As time goes by without resolution of my financial loss, it seems clear that a conspiracy is operating against me.

The wife of the attorney for WRANPS, Reilly Morse, is involved with WRANPS which explains why he has provided free legal service for them while I have had to pay for mine. The comment made by Bill McQueary the day before the job was to be finished, "We have already contacted our attorney, and he will be getting in touch with you," suggests to me that WRANPS never intended to pay me and that Reilly Morse was part of that plan from the beginning.

I hired an attorney, Donald Rafferty, in Gulfport, Mississippi. I paid $1,000 as a retainer up front with two checks and the rest in cash. I have never received a receipt nor signed a legal contract which is required by law. I explained to Donald Rafferty my situation, and he explained how he would try to retrieve my money and tools without going to court; however, if this failed, he stated he would take WRANPS to court.

After waiting for several weeks for a progress report on the case, I phoned Rafferty’s office and was told by his secretary that he was working on the case. After several more weeks, I again phoned his office and asked how the case was coming along and again was told he was working on the case. This went on for eight months; then I received a phone call from Rafferty telling me that he was going to quit the case. While it may be legal for an attorney to quit a case whenever he pleases, it is clearly unethical to take $1,000 from a client and do nothing for him except string him along until he can quit.

I reminded him that he had said he would take WRANPS to court. I began taping the conversation with Donald Rafferty’s knowledge. He said he did not care if I was taping the conversation because there was nothing I could do to stop him from quitting. (Anyone wanting to hear the conversation please contact me, and I will setup a hearing for you to listen to the tape (mccaleb4thdist@aol.com).

Next I contacted the Mississippi Bar Association in Jackson, Mississippi at e-mail address (www.mslawyer.com). I explained what had transpired, and the Mississippi Bar Association sent me a complaint form to fill out and return. I filled out the form and sent it back and waited several weeks for the findings. When the letter came, and I read the findings I was very unhappy. The letter stated that Donald Rafferty was not faulted for his actions. I was unhappy not only about the Mississippi Bar Association and their findings, but I was also unhappy about how the complaint form was worded.

Of course, I realize the Mississippi Bar Association consists of attorneys who probably are reluctant to investigate one of their own. Looking back to my telephone conversation with Rafferty, I think he was unconcerned about my complaint against him and taping of our conversation because he knew how the Mississippi Bar Association would handle my complaint against him.

My next step was to request, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, all documents pertaining to the Bar’s investigation. So far, I have not received any documents. I also filled out the appropriate forms with the Small Claims Court in Gulfport, Mississippi, to have Rafferty return my $1,000 since he did nothing for me and quit my case after eight months. I was given a court date which was later changed. When I arrived at Small Claims Court and walked into the courtroom, I noticed that I was the only person there which suggested to me that this case was being staged secretly instead of publicly, as is the usual way. Later Rafferty and his attorney and law partner came in and handed me a counter claim for another $1,000 dollars. So, here I am in Small Claims Court with a judge, two bailiffs, Rafferty and his attorney/law partner, Whitmann. Needless to say, I lost my case, and the judge awarded Donald Rafferty the $1,000 he sought in his counter suit.

Still trusting in our legal system for justice, I hired another attorney, Channing Powell in Gulfport, Mississippi. I again paid a retainer fee of $1,000 dollars up front, but this time I did receive a receipt and signed a legal contract stating that I would pay $85 dollars an hour for his services. After hiring Powell, the waiting game started all over again. I kept calling and requesting the status of the case; I also went to his office and tried to find out the status. After waiting eleven months, Powell told me he would phone WRANPS attorney, Reilly Morse. Powell reported to me that WRANPS would settle by offering me $1,000. Talk about a slap in the face, that was it.

Lets review the progress. WRANPS decided not to pay me the day the job was to be completed. I hired Donald Rafferty, and he did nothing for eight months. Next I hired Channing Powell who did nothing for eleven months. I waited several months for the Mississippi Bar Association to investigate attorney Donald Rafferty. Now, by this time the Statute of Limitation had run out (two years).

I conducted my own investigation. I found out that when the Master Electrician, Gary Frank, went to the Harrison County Code Office to obtain the necessary electrical permit, he was told he could not obtain the permit because there was no building at that location. This means that WRANPS had this building erected without obtaining the necessary permit. I contacted Marilyn McQueary about the problem, and she told me she would check into it. Later she phoned me and stated that she had spoken with Tom Compton, a physical sports instructor with the University of Southern Mississippi, Long beach, Mississippi. Ms. McQueary stated that Compton told her to go ahead and have the electrician wire the building, and he would take care of the problem. So I explained this to Gary Frank, and he wired the building but stated he would not wire the electrical panel without a permit. It should be noted that I related to both attorneys Rafferty and Powell what the Harrison County Code Office said about the permit, but neither attorney acted upon the information.

I spoke to Mr. Clark, Director, Harrison County Code Office, and he told me that if there was a building located at WRANPS, he would have the building torn down, and if not torn down the building would never have electrical power hooked up. This was stated to me three times by Clark. I took him for his word and considered him to be an honest person; however, he was probably overruled by political forces beyond his control.

I left the project in February of 1991 and by December 16, 1991 electrical power was hooked up to the WRANPS building. When I learned this, I phoned and requested a meeting at the Harrison County Code Office. The day I arrived at the Code Office I was escorted to a room in the back of the building where five people were sitting around a table. I was introduced to each person. The first words out of Mr. Clark’s mouth were, "We cannot seem to find the file on WRANPS." My question was how and why electrical power was hooked up to the building without a building permit. I questioned Clark about our three phone conversations when he stated that either the building would be torn down or electrical power would never be hooked up. Clark did not answer, but the man sitting at the opposite end of the table stated that he gave approval for electrical power to be hooked up to the building. He then threatened me by saying, " If you are going to pursue this matter, you better go for the jugular vein because that is what I aim to do." All I could say is why was power hooked up to the building and again no answer from Clark. It seemed obvious someone had gotten to Clark. The person who threatened me placed his arm around my neck and walked me out to the parking lot, then turned around and went back into the building.

I then phoned the Mississippi Power Company and spoke to Mr. Childers in Security. I explained why I was calling, and he stated he would look into the matter and get back to me. Mr. Childers called a while later and explained that the Harrison County Code Office approved the electrical power hook-up on December 16, 1991. I explained how WRANPS had not obtained the necessary building permit thus causing Mr. Frank to be unable to obtain the necessary electrical permit. Mr. Childers stated he had nothing to do with the permits; only the Harrison County Code Office has the authority to request and approve electrical power to be hooked up to a building. I requested under the Freedom of Information Act from the Harrison County Code Office, all documents showing how and why they approved electrical power to be hooked up to the building, but to date I have received no documents.

I have e-mailed Mr. Glen Waddle at the Mississippi Bar Association all of the information in this web page. I have re-filed three complaint forms and have received three docket numbers and three letters back from the Mississippi Bar Association. Now I wait, how long I do not know, but I am certain the three attorneys will not be faulted.

I e-mailed Dr. Horace Fleming, president of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The university owns the land on which WRANPS is located. I explained how I could not understand how the university could place itself in a position where they would be criticized for the wrong doings of WRANPS. I have received an e-mail back from Dr. Fleming in which he stated that he has been busy but will look into my request.

I have contacted the Sun Herald newspaper and WLOX-TV-13 on several occasions to investigate everything I have placed in this Web Page. They refuse and will not even acknowledge I have requested an investigation. I do not know why, but if I had to guess, I would blame the political and legal fraternities sticking together to protect their own. Surely a more objective group of people other than fellow lawyers should investigate legal wrong doing.

I have also contacted the Attorney General, Mike Moore, and requested an investigation into the Harrison County Code Office. I received a response that this was by law not within their scope of investigation. I have requested several investigations by the Attorney General’s Office only to be told, "Not MY job," or words to that effect.

I will be adding to this Web Page as information is acquired. I welcome your comments or questions. Please send this web page to everyone you know. I may never retrieve my money or tools, but it would be satisfying if the attorneys were disbarred. The Harrison County Building Code Office personnel were replaced with honest people, and the University of Southern Mississippi move WRANPS, INC., off of their land and have all the buildings torn down.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1998
Last night as I watched the 10 o'clock news on WLOX-13, I witnessed WRANPS showing the hurricane damage to the building where all of my financial and legal problems began. I watched as Katy Pope, the director of WRANPS, asked for volunteers and help in other ways to resolve the damages. I also read an article in the Sun Herald Newspaper where WRANPS is again asking for volunteers and money to clean up the hurricane damage. I have been requesting the Sun Herald and WLOX-13 to place my story on the air and in the newspaper to show how I have been the victim of WRANPS and the legal community
to no avail.

I live about two city blocks from the director of WLOX-13 and have noticed that his mansion has hurricane damage and several of his pecan trees have been sucked out of the ground. Normally I would feel sorry, but instead I think it could not happen to a better man. I can remember one other time he and I spoke, and he was unresponsive to my request then as well. I was the Commander of the Purple Heart Association which was having a meeting at the American Legion in Gulfport, Mississippi. I had called and requested coverage for this meeting by WLOX-13 to show the Purple Heart Association was active on the coast. I was assured by WLOX-13 that Ms. Wooten would cover the meeting. On the day of the meeting I called to make sure Ms. Wooten would be there on time. Again, I was assured she would be there. Ten minutes prior to the start of the meeting I called again, and again was assured she would be there. Ms. Wooten never showed up for the meeting. The next day I phoned WLOX-13 and complained; I was told that someone would get back to me. Later in the day I received a call from the Director, Mr. Leon Long, and he told me Ms. Wooten could not make the appointment because something more important came up. I asked him what was more important, but he did not know. His statement was this, "If the gulf caught on fire that would be a big story," and I had to agree. In other words he did not believe the Purple Heart Association was not important enough to get coverage and be aired on his television station.

OCTOBER 2, 1998:
My e-mail to Dr. Horace Fleming, President
University of Southern Mississippi

I believe it is time to get my request moving. I have waited for an answer to why the University of Southern Mississippi allowed the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society (WRANPS) to erect a building on their property. According to Mr. Clark, Director Harrison County Code Office, the reason the electrician was not able to obtain the proper electrical permits was because WRANPS/USM did not obtain the necessary building permit. The University of Southern Mississippi owns the land on which the building in question is located. I requested this same information in 1992, but never could get a straight answer.

The three attorneys, Donald Rafferty, Channing Powell, and Reilly Morse the attorney for WRANPS, involved in this case were aware of this because I explained the situation to them. Even though I did not personally explain about the building permit not being obtained Morse should have known. So let’s get the ball rolling.

I know the land is or was owned by the University of Southern Mississippi when the building was erected, and you know the land is or was owned by USM. I want justice; I have already been cheated out of money, profit, and tools. Justice is all that is left; I now know how a conspiracy works and how powerful our state and local governments are. Apparently we have the best public officials money can buy which also confirms the saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I have sent a request to the Mississippi Bar Association through claim forms that attorneys Donald Rafferty, Channing Powell, and Reilly Morse be disbarred from ever practicing law again. This is my second request on Donald Rafferty. I am not going away, I will sit here and write letters everyday until I feel justice has been served.

Have you spoken to Tom Compton? He is or was in charge of your Physical Education. Department here in Long Beach (USM). He is the person who stated to Marilyn McQueary that the electrician could go ahead and wire the building without a permit. He must have known someone either at Mississippi Power Company or the Harrison County Code Office.

I will be writing to you several times a week regarding my requests until I am provided answers. I am sorry it has come to this, but you should be in my position.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1998
I have requested that Kirk Fordice in the governors office investigate the Harrison County Code Office. I feel its is the responsibility of the State of Mississippi to ensure that agencies such as Harrison County Code Office abide by the same laws which govern the people of Mississippi.

I have been requesting that the Attorney General’s Office investigate this matter but am told I should hire and attorney because it's a legal matter. I take exception to the Attorney General telling me that the expense and trouble of hiring an attorney to correct this injustice is up to me alone. It may not be the Attorney General’s responsibility to investigate the Harrison County Code Office, but it is his responsibility to assign an agency responsible for investigating wrong doing by a government office.

I have sent several letters to the Harrison County Building Code Office requesting copies of the Building Permit, Electrical Permit, and all documents provided to the Mississippi Power Company which hooked up the power to the WRANPS building December 6, 1991 with a release number of 34709. These have been requested through the "Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983 and the Freedom of Information Act of 1966." The Harrison County Building Code Office will not even recognize my request for the information requested.

NOVEMBER 17, 1998:
I received three letters today from the Mississippi Bar Association, Docket Numbers 98-13-1 Donald Rafferty, 98-14-1 Reilly Morse, and 98-15-1 Channing Powell. All three letters were the same, and as I predicted, weighed on the side of the attorneys. This is what the letters stated:

The Mississippi Bar
Personal & Confidential
November 13, 1998
Steven McCaleb
103 Alverado Drive
Long Beach, MS 39560-2603
Re: Docket No.:
Attorney:
Filed By: Steven A. McCaleb
Dear Mr. McCaleb:
The committee on the Professional Responsibility of The Mississippi Bar has reviewed the complaint which you filed against the above named attorney. The committee finds no conduct of said attorney which would warrant any action under the disciplinary rules governing lawyers practicing in this state; and the complaint has, therefore, been dismissed.

Please be advised that in accordance with the Bar's policy, the file compiled with respect to the above-referenced docket number and its contents will be destroyed one (1) year from the date of this letter. Consequently, if you want to keep a copy of this file for your records, it will be necessary for you to request a copy of the same and pay the copying cost involved. In addition, if you want us to return any of the documents you provided us, you MUST REQUEST return of the specific documents within ONE (1) YEAR from the date of this letter. If you do not request a return of documents, all documents in the file will be destroyed. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS IF YOU WANT ANY DOCUMENT OUT OF THE FILE OR A COPY OF THE FILE.

The above letter is the "Mississippi Bar Associations" standard answer