Friday, March 21, 2014
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Mednick Disputes Cooper’s Claim in Writ Petition That His Most Recent Job Was as a Lawyer
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Arnold William Mednick, a candidate for a judgeship, yesterday filed opposition to a writ petition which seeks to block his designation on the June 3 ballot as an “Administrative Law judge,” denying the allegation that he has worked more recently as an attorney than as an ALJ.
The petition was filed by his rival in the race for Office No. 157, Deputy District Attorney Andrew Cooper. A hearing is slated for Monday before retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O’Brien, sitting on assignment.
Under a section of the California Code of Regulations, a candidate must use his or her most recent position as the ballot designation. Mednick last served as an administrative law judge with the state Department of Social Services on Jan. 16, 2013, and Cooper, in his writ petition, alleged:
“As of February 11, 2014, Mednick was affiliated with the Offices of Steven Bryson, a bankruptcy attorney. This is evidenced by Mednick’s listing with the California State Bar as of that date.”
Mednick said in a declaration attached to his opposition:
“After I left DSS, I had to change the address the State Bar released to the public. Since I had been a bench officer, I did not want to make my home address public record. Mr. Bryson was kind enough to let me use his office address (‘c/o Offices of Steven L. Bryson’ with no phone number, no fax number, and no email) till I got around to renting a private mail box. After I rented the mailbox, I changed the Bar website entry to show c/o a personal mailbox, also with no phone, fax or email indicated.”
He added:
“I have never worked for, or as a sole practitioner associated with, Steven L Bryson. I have known Mr. Bryson for years and he has provided legal advice to me in the past. Until this week, in connection with this case, I had not been in his office in years. A simple thirty second call to Mr. Bryson by Petitioner should have confirmed this fact.”
Mednick sought sanctions against Cooper “since he has continued to press his frivolous allegations, and has been less than candid in his presentation to the court.” The candidate did not cite a statute authorizing a sanction award.
He faulted Cooper for stating under penalty of perjury in his petition that the entire record was attached. Mednick said he filed with the Registrar-Record’s Office a 27-page memorandum and 159 pages of supporting documents, and complained that Cooper only attached the first two pages of his worksheet.
Copyright 2014, Metropolitan News Company