The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

Updated September 27, 2008 - We have contacted Ms. Buckman to see if she, PCM or the board of directors would comment on this story - we have not heard from anyone.

We also contacted the Orange County District Attorney and asked the DA's office to comment on Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Harbor Justice Center Case Number 30-2008-00205907 and this story. Spokesperson Farrah Emami had this to say: "The residents of Laguna Woods are encouraged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) as soon as possible if they feel they are the victims of a crime. OCSD is the law enforcement agency that can take reports for the City" This is the same office which has been unable to provide us with a simple response as to whether that office is working on a certain CHP Case 2008-08-0014 - for over one month!

We have yet to hear from the Orange County Sheriff's department for this story.

Apparently Laguna Woods Village Property Management Company employees feel a 73-year old resident is a threat: Last Thursday, PCM filed a Petition of Employer for Injunction Prohibiting Violence or Threats of Violence Against Employee (workplace violence).

Obviously, PCM of California employee and General Manager of Laguna Woods Village Milt Johns, age 50 and PCM employee Wendy Bucknum, age 46 are terrified and feel they have suffered great emotional harm, given that he resident is being charged with Violence or Threats of Violence Against Employee. As much as we can tell, the “Violence or Threats of Violence” consists of several e-mails sent to PCM and board members

Representing PCM, Johns and Bucknum are attorneys William H. Hart and Robert J. Mulvihill from the firm of Hart King & Coldren. This firm and Hart are the corporate counsel for Laguna Woods Village’s Golden Rain Foundation, Third Mutual and United Mutual. That’s right. In this case, they are representing the company and the employees who manage LWV AND they also represent the boards of directors charged with running the village and employing PCM in the first place. Can this be construed as a conflict of interest?

Apparently the statement that evoked so much terror involved a rather classic ritualistic exorcism invoking the powers of good to drive out the evildoers of PCM and Milt Johns. To wit, invoking the name of Christ, “I command each and every one of you to resign and to remove yourselves far, far away from this community. We have had more than enough of your deceptions, intimidations, blackmailing, etc. Now if you need to be removed by force we can accommodate you” reads the missive

In a follow up e-mail dated August 26 the resident asks rhetorically “so, PCM and GRF why are you trying to screw us again? Man, your days are numbered. How can you ever live with yourselves, continuing to abuse residents, breaking laws, and getting worse each day. Are you totally demon-possessed?, signed “an abused resident”.

First of all, we find the initial statement as a ritualistic exorcism. Second, in the context of the series of e-mails, this was an open appeal to PCM to resign and or GRF to remove PCM as managing agent.

On September 18, PCM, Milt Johns and Wendy Bucknam filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against the 73 year old resident. Such petition was denied pending a hearing which is set for October 15. This follows a pattern, dare I say ritualistic, of PCM overreacting in a brutal, abusive fashion threatening and intimidating residents to scare them into silence and have a chilling effect on any other like-minded residents. The process PCM has followed in the past is to immediately file a lawsuit in order to create fear and to cause the resident to incur the personal expense of attorney representation. Hearing dates are always several weeks away in order to increase the apprehension, fear and cost to residents. Typically, within 3 days of the hearing PCM withdraws the complaint; the object lesson of fear and expenditure of money is sufficient. As further chilling effect and warning, the residents will be stuck with the legal bill from HK&C because of the way the management contract is written demanding that “all expenses” be paid.

Case in point: Several weeks ago at a GRF board meeting a 60 something diminutive female resident was cut off by GRF Board President, Bob Miller (at the bidding of Milt Johns sitting next to him and operating the microphone switch.) When the resident refused to silently return to her seat tempers flared, Miller called a recess and got up from his chair to leave. Gene Hart who is well over 6 feet tall and weighs in excess of 250 pounds, head of security, was present in the room to keep an eye on yet another resident who is being harassed. Hart moved forcefully toward the podium contacting and bumping several residents out of his path. He bulldozed forward while ignoring the attempts of residents to get him to be more careful while bumping into physically fragile residents.

Once at the podium he towered over and threatened with his looming presence inches from the resident trying to exercise her right of free speech. His presence was intimidating but it was obvious to those present, including this reporter, that his intention was to provoke a physical response from the resident which he could then use to his advantage.
	Allegedly because of threatening residents such as the gentleman walking back to his seat, the board felt it was necessary to rope the area around the podium

Several voices rang out cautioning all sides to avoid contact. The situation eventually calmed and the resident left the podium to call the sheriff.

So, you say, this altercation created no harm and was destined to fade away into obscurity. Just one more example of PCMs campaign of intimidation to silence opposing voices. However, it appears that a peaceful resolution was neither desired nor sufficient for Milt Johns, PCM and GRF. One of the residents trying to get Hart’s attention by patting him on the arm was sent a letter by the general manager, Milt Johns saying this resident had “struck” an employee.

	This particular resident, a frail 80+ year old man has demanded a public disciplinary hearing before the Third Board of Directors at a venue large enough to accommodate his supporters and witnesses. It was obvious to all present at the GRF Board meeting that the only physical threat in that room was Gene Hart. The hearing is scheduled for October 21 at 1:00 p.m.
*Guess who is intimidating whom in this picture?*

For PCM these tactics of intimidation are win/win. The residents are further intimidated, the residents lose sometimes substantial sums of money for legal services and it costs PCM nothing since the management contract is so one sided that the residents will pay all of PCM’s legal bills as well as their own.

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