Sept. 21, 2009, 11 am, Meeting of Creditors for Montecito Fine Arts, Inc.
The address is:
725 S Figueroa St., Room 2610,
Los Angeles, CA 90017.
Please stand up for your right and let the Trustee know that we were misled into paying ten thousands of dollars in unreimbursed tuition."
Documents:
Futura_BK_Proof_of_Claims_Deadline.pdf
Montecito_BK_ProofClaimsDeadline.pdf
Futura_BK_NoticeStatusConf.pdf
2009年9月21日，早上11点，Montecito Fine Arts, Inc.债主会议
无论您多忙，也请务必参加b和c的会议。地址是725 S Figueroa St., Room 2610, Los Angeles, CA 90017. 请维护您的权利，告诉托管人我们因为被误导而付出了几万块未退还的学费。
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
If you are a former MFA employee who knows about any illegal or suspicious activities ED and his people performed, would you please email to
ReplyDeletesuemontecito@gmail.com or
Gary Baddin (Bankruptcy Analyst): gary.baddin@usdoj.gov
Mr. Joe Johnson (Senior Investigator) JJohnson@dca.lacounty.gov
We need your information. Thank you.
Monty and your gropu's lawyer:
ReplyDeleteIllegal was a reality. Perhaps you should contact ALL former employeess yourself - be proactive and organized, in all of Ed's fake schools, fake college, fake after school programs and fake ESL program. There are former big shots and staff who were fired or let go just prior to the house of cards falling down. Former big shots and their names are on the www.
I think it is important to temper our comments. I understand that people are upset, but to call the school a fake school, is to disregard the real efforts of the teachers who did a pretty good job of providing both creative and practical instruction for many years. Many of us, who were teaching your children, did so without pay for many months. We could have left, but we were committed to your children's education as our first priority. For a very long time, Montecito provided an excellent educational opportunity for hundreds and hundreds of students. The educational reputation of the school and its instructors was the reason parents chose to send their children to the school.
ReplyDeleteIf people want to condemn Ed and Trisha for being bad at business or greedy or whatever they wish, to vent their anger or frustration, I can understand, but it is unfair and untrue to accuse the school of being fake, because if the doors were still open and classes had continued, we would not even be having this discussion. We all lost money, but the time that the students spent with their teachers at Montecito was not a loss.
I ask that we focus on what is really the issue, that being the misinformation and dishonesty on the part of the school leadership. It is the poor handling of funds that resulted in the ultimate closure of the school. As much as some would like to get revenge, the truth is Ed and Trisha have probably lost a great deal more than you think. On more than one occasion, long before the collapse, Ed confided to me that the high school was financially ruining them. I think Ed and Trisha so overextended themselves, with no backup plan, that they were grabbing at straws to stay afloat. Of course they have other investments, those are personal investments, they were smart enough to separate themselves from the business by forming a corporation. For many years, they did have a very nice income, as was deserved, given the service they were providing at the time. It was only when they sought to over expand, with the larger building, and the additional campuses, did they start to sink. I know a lot of people think they are making off with thousands of dollars, but I don't see that. In fact, I think of all parties concerned, Ed and Trisha are probably the biggest victims in this whole mess. Their ability to conduct business in this community is over. A business they invested themselves in for 30 years is gone. Ed is no spring chicken and the school was his life's work and it is gone. Was he egotistical? Yes, he was. Was he full of himself? Yes, he was. Was he untruthful? Yes, he was. But did all of you voluntarily decide to send you kids to Montecito despite these obvious qualities of his? Yes, you did.
Don't get me wrong, I am angry. I am out thousands of dollars in pay, but I knew there were problems and I chose to stay on in hopes of things turning around. I used the past success of the school as my vantage point. I was wrong. But not everything about what went on at Montecito was wrong. I think if we all take a step back from our anger, we may be able to discern some positives and gain a little perspective.
You make it sound like it is OK for Trisha to lie and Ed to steal as long as they also lost money. It is not a crime to have a bad business. It is a crime to fraudulently make a misrepresentation in order to get money, even if the intentions are somewhat honerable. Promising to put money in trust and then not doing so is fraud. Collecting money for future semesters when you know the school is going to close is fraud. It doesn't atter if Ed socked it away in the bank, bought investments or lost everything.
ReplyDeleteI was a teacher at MFA too but no matter what, what ED, Trisha and Nathan did was wrong and illegal. Some of teachers were trying to help them out at the end but (ED and his people) were the ones who disappeared which showed us how irresponsible owner they were. Yes, Teachers are great and some of us are looking for job however We won't work for them every again.
ReplyDeleteI believe ED, Trisha and Nathan should pay or serve for what they did. It's not a revange, we just want justice.
I never said I thought it was ok that Ed and Trisha did some pretty unethical things. I am not defending them, I too am angry, but I am not so sure that what they did was illegal, at least not in the criminal sense. Of course there is the civil matter, and that can be pursued, although, it is unclear as to how much direct responsibility either Ed, Trisha or Nathan will be required to assume.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, there is no justice. In the past two years, millions of people lost their savings and home equity at the hands of banks and investors who were greedy and knew the house of cards had no foundation. Where is the justice there?
R
Regardless of how difficult it might be to hear, those who invested in the Montecito programs were not very perceptive. Why in the world would you pay upwards to $20,000 up front, often in cash, for a program that might last up to 4 years for your kid? People allowed Trisha and some of the other sales staff to push then into those "non refundable" programs. Who ever heard of a non refundable program for services you choose not to use? Frankly, I was shocked when I learned about how they wrote contracts and what they told people. I know that many of the school's clients are immigrants, and do not know the rules for such programs, but didn't anyone in the entire Chinese community know the rules? Didn't anyone speak out anywhere along the line? There was always the option, to pay for one class at a time, of course. With kids, that is usually the best way to go, especially when we all know they change their minds on an hourly basis. When it came to the high school, Trisha and some others went to the parents in January or February and told them they needed to pay for the 2009/2010 tuition or it would be doubled later in the year, they should have known something was up. Why in the world would you pay for something like that so far in advance. Everyone knew they were in need of more students, they weren't going to do anything to lose the ones they had, but no one called their bluff. In addition, by January, all of the employees knew there were serious problems. Our checks were bouncing, the phone was often disconnected. Nathan was full of excuses about funds. It was already a mess. Why didn't the teachers speak up at that point and warn the parents to be cautious?
ReplyDeleteI personally advised two parents not to send their kids to the high school until they proved it was on solid ground. Trisha had been trying to recruit these two students and walked around with the contracts, smiling and telling parents how their kids could get 4.0 gpas if they went to their school. Come on, if parents thought they could buy their kids grades, where are their ethics and morals? I had several parents complain that they were promised that their kids would get all As if they sent them to the high school and now they had earned lower grades than they had in their previous schools. It never donned on them that there were other issues with their kid, and that no one can honestly offered any grade that is real.
All of the kids who got into great schools, who were also students at Montecito,did so based on their grades in their home high schools and their test scores. Only when a student was applying to an art program, did an Montecito portfolio or experience count for anything other than an extracurricular activity, no different that Karate or music.
My point is simple: while Ed and his crew were unethical, his victims were not forced. They may have been manipulated, but no one held a gun to their heads to sign those up front, nonrefundable contracts, which were foolish.
I am going to assume that if this goes to court, a defense attorney is going to ask a lot of hard questions about the kind of research and information gathering people did before handing over so much money for such extended promised services.
It is not a crime to be gullible, but it does come with a price. Trisha sold a lot of people the same bridge over and over again.
In the future, I would suggest that you only pay for the services you are currently receiving, regardless of who is providing the services.
With regards to ever working for this crew again, I don't see that that will be a viable option. I think they are probably finished in this community.
Since they are now in Chapter 7, we might all be spinning our wheels. A court case and lawyer will cost more than you might ever get. Small claims court has no real way to actually collect any awarded funds, since you can't sue Ed or Trisha or Nathan personally since your contract was not with them but with Futura and if Futura is bankrupt, the well is dry.
You don't know if they are in Chapter 7 yet. The case might dismiss which we all want. Also the state is looking at this case very carefully.
ReplyDeleteLet me see if I've got this straight.
ReplyDeleteYou are saying don't criticize the school - it's everyone else's fault for falling for the scam.
Here's a thought; perhaps it's also a time where lessons can equally be learned by Ed and 'his people'. Some people are venting their anger here, and that's what happens when you pull a scam of this magnitude.
Lessons, lessons and more lessons.
Those who trusted what they'd been told by Ed and Trisha here in California, many of whom have set up a new life, in a new country, and who parted with money to educate their kids have learned a few things the hard way. Have the decency to allow those who've had to take this bitter pill to stick the finger to those responsible (and please, without the sob story of poor Edgar having to sell a couple of his luxury cars, and maybe having to let go of a few of his many properties).
You seem to think that the parents should have known better than 'a local state senator', who showered this guy with praise and endorsement.
Your comment is the first time I've seen ANY suggestion of criticism of the teachers themselves.
It doesn't matter how dry the well is. 'Money' was the focus of Ed. 'Decency' is the focus of the rest of us.
People !!!! It's not about the parents or teachers. We are all vitimes here. We all want one thing "JUSTICE" right?
ReplyDeletePlease foucs on the main point. The point is GET ED, Trisha and Nathan.
By the way, someone saw Trisha two days before they closed the school, shopping for clothes. Where did the money come from?
ReplyDeleteShe also had very nice nails(even her toenails)were done by profesnials.
Where did the money come from?
Ed is spending lots of money for his lawyer right now.
Where did the money come from?
Ed is maintaining and updating his web-site.
Where did the money come from?
Ed still has his red corvettes. Does anybody want to buy one or two?
Where did the money come from?
Ed has at least 6 properties. Does anybody wants to buy? oh, You can wait for the foreclosure.
IT's our money that they are using for their ASS!
First of all, it is apparent that you have not read what I wrote. I never said not to criticize, I merely wished to point out that if the doors of the school were still open, and classes were still in session, the students would still be there. It is not the school that is the problem, it is the leadership. I did not say we should feel sorry for Ed or Trisha or Nathan. I again, merely attempted to point out that 1) contracts were signed with Futura, not Ed, 2) for all their scheming, they are out of business and they will never do business in this town again.
ReplyDeleteOf course money was the root of the problem, Montecito was not a not for profit school. It was all about money, what do you think the whole front office was all about. Those people were commissioned sales staff. Now, just consider, what does that mean, when there are 6 people greeting you at the front door, telling you how wonderful your kid is, how talented, and then showing how successful he/she will be if you INVEST in this program. Didn't it smell like a used car lot to anyone but me?
Where did I criticize the teachers? I merely said that many, if not all of the teachers, were well aware of the money issues at the school. I knew about them as early as last November. It was a running joke about who would get to the Bof A first, so they could cash their check. The signs were clear that all was not well. And then when there were no checks, and empty promises, there was still no real revolt. I want to attribute that to some sort of loyalty to the kids, not to Ed.
And with regards to your Honorable Senator Huff, he has received campaign contributions from Ed and Trisha for years. Ed has been a regular contributor to Republican candidates and has curried their favor. He never made a secret of that.
You can go after Ed and Trisha and Nathan, but I think before anyone spends anymore money on a lawyer, who they themselves will only respond if there is a buck to be made, it might be a good idea to be realistic about what can actually be accomplished. If you are suggesting that Ed and his crew be punished in other than monetary ways, as some have suggested in this blog, you might need to do a decency check on yourself. I would like to think that this is still a nation of law.
As far as decency is concerned, what does that mean? What do you want to have happen? Do you want them to go to jail? That can only happen if they have committed a crime. Even if they have misused the withholding taxes, they will be fined and have to repay them, but it is unlikely they will go to jail. You and I think they acted in a fraudulent manner, but our opinion is not an interpretation of the law. Anyway, at what point was fraud committed? Does it involve the people who got 8 of their 20 classes? Does it include those who completed the program, or is only those who were involved with the high school and with contracts late in the game? You will need to prove that Futura Education had no intent to continue, but as late as the week of the closure, Ed and Trisha were in talks to sell the school to another school program, as a means of keeping it open, but when the other school demanded to see the books, the deal fell apart. Based on this attempt it might be very difficult to prove they didn't try to keep the school open and the students served.
ReplyDeleteI am just suggesting that we all remain realistic. I have no fantasy about ever seeing the money they owe me. I will chalk it up to poor judgement on my part. I probably got more of my back wages than most, as I reported Futura to the Labor Board in April and threatened to go to the Franchise Tax Board if I wasn't paid. I did receive two cashier checks, as I refused to accept a personal or business check. BUT I was the first one to contact Senator Huff's office and complain about the business award and I was the one who told the press about it. I reported the potential I20 fraud to the State Department of Homeland Security. I have not sat still, I have tried to address the people and agencies that can have the greatest impact. So, if you all are really interested in JUSTICE, you might be heard with the State Department, or use your community resources to find out if Ed is still recruiting students in China and offering them worthless I20s at $25,000 a clip.
A response to, "it is apparent that you have not read what I wrote."
ReplyDeletePART I
I've preceded quotes taken from your posts with an asterisk.
* I think it is important to temper our comments.
Fair point, well made.
* If people want to condemn Ed and Trisha for being bad at business or greedy or whatever they wish, to vent their anger or frustration, I can understand
Thanks. We are in agreement.
* I ask that we focus on what is really the issue, that being the misinformation and dishonesty on the part of the school leadership.
Totally agree. Well said
* The educational reputation of the school and its instructors was the reason parents chose to send their children to the school
Exactly. And that's why someone could choose to précis the situation with the phrase "fake school." The reputation was unjustified, and the ridiculous 'ivy league' claims were certainly "fake".
* But did all of you voluntarily decide to send you kids to Montecito despite these obvious qualities of his? Yes, you did.
Yes. Of course yes!! Because people were duped! Because of the deliberate, calculated deception. I'm beginning to divert from your point of view here.
* the truth is Ed and Trisha have probably lost a great deal more than you think
I hope so.
At any stage they could have counted on the professionalism and concern of staff and their dedication to the kids' futures. If they had chosen to put education before profit, I am convinced that the whole organization would have pulled together, to get through any truly hard times encountered. After all, plenty of staff continued to work without receiving pay for months. With dedication like that, anything could have been achieved. I suggest that was a mark of deep disdain and an ingrained pathological dishonesty that made that invisible to these charlatans.
It was the layer upon layer of dishonesty (and blatant face-to-face lies) that prevented any hope.
* "they [Ed and Trisha] did have a very nice income, as was deserved"
Really? I disagree.
* Ed and Trisha are probably the biggest victims in this whole mess
Really? I disagree.
* I am not so sure that what they did was illegal, at least not in the criminal sense
Really? I disagree. But as you intimate, it's a matter for the authorities and those educated in the law. I'm fine with that; are you? But the authorities need the facts and figures of past events to make any fair and considered judgment. This is a difficult task when dealing with people who spend a good proportion of the day deceiving and misleading staff, children and parents. Even YOU have quoted Ed's words in your dissertations - and you don't even seem to question how honest he was being as he spoke.
* "Ed confided to me that the high school was financially ruining them."
Here's a wonderful example. On the one hand you dismiss the parents as gullible fools, yet you take 'Ed's confiding' at face value. Boo hoo; who's naive now? Ever heard the story of the kid who cried, "wolf!"?
This isn't a time for concern over Ed's feelings; it's time to establish facts, and let the courts decide.
A response to, "it is apparent that you have not read what I wrote."
ReplyDeletePART II
* In the past two years, millions of people lost their savings and home equity at the hands of banks and investors who were greedy and knew the house of cards had no foundation. Where is the justice there?
What the..? What on earth has this got to do with ANYTHING to do with the collapse of this particular house of cards? This is surely the most desperate sack of nonsense in your comments. Even the isolated content of the sentence makes little sense in the wider context; but in relation to this case, you've driven way off the path.
* those who invested in the Montecito programs were not very perceptive.
No, they didn't spot a dishonest man. The hope is that in this case, a dishonest man can be identified and examined by the authorities.
* Why in the world would you pay for something like that so far in advance.
Pay for education in advance? Why would you pay for education in advance? Are you serious? I didn't give this particular establishment money in advance, but then that's my good fortune to have smelled the bullshit wafted under my nose in this case; but that doesn't make me feel any less sympathy nor empathy for those who got caught this time - parents, kids and teachers alike. This kind of thing can happen to any of us at anytime.
* Come on, if parents thought they could buy their kids grades, where are their ethics and morals?
I can understand any immigrant wanting to give the best chance to their kids. The examination of ethics and morals is one of life's constant struggles for all honest people. I personally don't think it's fair to throw your personal disapproval of the parents' intentions and judgments into the mix with the fact that the parents were blatantly deceived. I'm not sure there was any dark intention with parents pursuing the best advantage in education.
* while Ed and his crew were unethical, his victims were not forced.
Yes, everyone should be ashamed; believing a liar like that! What were they all thinking!? (Please note the sarcasm.)
* I am going to assume that if this goes to court..
I hope so. Let the law and the authorities pass judgment. Sounds appropriate.
* I think they are probably finished in this community.
I wouldn't count on it. Ed has been through bankruptcy once before. So if the attitude you appeal for is, 'oh well, poor guy screwed up,' then what's to stop him doing it again and again? I don't accept this was just business ineptitude. You seem to agree that there was at least some dishonesty involved - even if 'not criminal' as you put it, we all seem to agree - let the courts decide.
* Since they are now in Chapter 7
Wrong. That is far from decided. That is a legal matter for the state; and the more facts they have access to, the better.
* if the doors of the school were still open, and classes were still in session, the students would still be there
"If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle." That's how circular your comment sounds to me.
* "They were smart enough to separate themselves from the business by forming a corporation," and, "contracts were signed with Futura, not Ed."
Business entities are not there to provide cover for dishonest dealing (regardless of how smart you think Ed is/was). If there is dishonesty involved, the entity can quickly dissolve before the courts' eyes. So perhaps 'not so smart'.
A response to, "it is apparent that you have not read what I wrote."
ReplyDeletePART III
* "Where did I criticize the teachers?" and, "It is apparent that you have not read what I wrote."
It was inferred in your piece that there was criticism of teachers - in that, "to call the school a fake school, is to disregard the real efforts of the teachers". It is apparent that YOU have not read what I wrote.. I never said that YOU criticized the teachers. There was an inference that you 'assumed' criticism of teachers in the phrase "fake school"; and I responded that it was the first hint of any criticism of teachers I had heard, rendering your umbrage unnecessary and mute.
* I would like to think that this is still a nation of law.
As would we all; at lease I would hope. Which is why we want ALL the facts to be brought to attention - to allow 'the law' to reflect on the whole scenario.
* As far as decency is concerned, what does that mean? What do you want to have happen? Do you want them to go to jail? That can only happen if they have committed a crime.
Whether the law says they are devils or saints, so be it. But I would be disappointed if I thought the whole truth hadn't been presented to the courts.
* Ed and Trisha were in talks to sell the school to another school program
Who told you that? You seem possibly to be guilty of the same gullibility you condemn in the parents. I heard it said that the schools in question had denied they'd been approached. (You might find this amusing; I even heard eyewitness accounts that the 'inspectors' who were seen being escorted around to assess the situation were in fact stooges pretending and acting the part. Forgive me if I find it amusing that you might have been duped by that.)
* I have no fantasy about ever seeing the money they owe me.I will chalk it up to poor judgment on my part.
An attitude that you seem to think does you credit. Even though I agree that 'money they owe' will never be seen, I'd prefer the 'nation of law' to decide on the appropriate reaction. By all means chalk it all up in your mind, but I don't think the nation of law should just chalk it up and move on. Let the full force of law examine the situation.
* I probably got more of my back wages than most.
Good for you. However, I lost no money at all. I just know when something stinks whoever gets slammed by dishonesty, and I don't happen to like it.
* So, if you all are really interested in JUSTICE, you might be heard with the State Department, or use your community resources to find out if Ed is still recruiting students in China and offering them worthless I20s at $25,000 a clip.
Thank you valuable contribution to the discussion. However, it falls upon individuals to establish the facts with our own individual efforts, and while I applaud your suggestion, all this is just whistling in the wind until someone actually caries through with inquiry and careful fact collection. That seems to be one of the goals of this website. I'm sure everyone would be grateful if anyone makes inquires in this direction, and I hope that someone with resources can help.
* You and I think they acted in a fraudulent manner, but our opinion is not an interpretation of the law.
Which is why there is an effort to gather all 'facts' in the case. I'm sure that most of us have very limited education in law, and since Ed has been through bankruptcy before, he probably has the advantage.
Thanks for posting.
A