Re: Haytham, Billing Question from Ted Card

[Haytham Faraj <haytham@puckettfaraj.com>]

Ted, 
I'm currently overseas. As far as the billing goes, expenses are not part of the retainer. We normally collect after we incur those expenses. That's what those invoices are about. With respect to the other issues, I recommend we speak by phone about your options. And you have options. 

Haytham Faraj
Sent from my iPad

On Jul 14, 2011, at 9:45 PM, "Ted" <ted.card@cox.net> wrote:

> Haytham,
> 
> I writing to ask for your assistance/guidance, relating to a matter of your
> Firm's billing practices.  
> 
> 1.  To date, I have received two (2) notices/reminders from Puckett & Faraj,
> PC; the first is dated 9 June and the second is from the 28th of June.  Both
> reminders cite Invoice #716 dated 6 May 2011, which is billing me for
> $951.50.  As I understood from a conversation we (you & I) had sometime
> during the Spring of this year, the $10,000 I had paid to the Firm would
> cover applicable fees through the completion of the UCMJ Article 32
> Investigation.  I searched through some old e-mail Files and found records
> of an electronic conversation between Marcelyn Atwood (your Firm's business
> manager) and myself, which took place on 21 January 2010; therein, we (she &
> I) discussed the generation and mailing of a Cashier's Check for $10,000.
> So, I'm confused by Invoice #716.  I did not act following receipt of the
> first letter, but the second one has me concerned.
> 
> 2.  Haytham, right now, I am still assigned TAD to I MEF Headquarters Group;
> I am still TAD to this command, from I MEF G-3.  My last CO at the Group
> (Colonel Lori Reynolds) was selected for Brigadier General in January of
> this year.  Coincidentally, she was PCS'd to her next assignment (CG,
> MCRDPI) and promoted very soon following the conclusion of the Article 32
> Investigation and the publication of the I.O.'s Report.  Since May 2011, the
> IMHG has been commanded by Colonel Stephen M. Hanson, USMC.  Colonel Hanson
> has found my performance as the Group Adjutant (the billet I am filling at
> IMHG) to be insufficient.  On Monday of this week I was summarily fired and
> directed to take Leave until this coming Monday; at which time, I would
> notified of my new assignment, outside IMHG.
> 
> 3.  I had never asked nor wanted to be the logistician (S4) or Adjutant (S1)
> for I MEF Headquarters Group (by T/O both billets are slated for Lieutenant
> Colonels).  But, these were the assignments I have filled for the past two
> years, since being detained and questioned by the NCIS in June of 2009.  I
> have always clearly understood why the IMEF CoS re-assigned me from
> OpsO/C.Ops/G3 over to the IMHG; I was working out of the M.O.C. with a TS
> Clearance, and I couldn't operate in that capacity, while at the same time
> be a murder suspect.  Although I had received excellent Fitness Reports from
> Colonel(now, BGen) Reynolds over these past two years, I will now be
> receiving an Adverse Report from this new Commander, on my way out the door.
> Needless to say, I'm frustrated and pretty pissed-off.
> 
> 4.  Regarding my other troubles:
>    a.  The last official word I had received regarding NCIS' investigation
> was that it was still 'open.'  As of this writing, I do not know if this
> ridiculous investigation has been closed yet, or not.
>    b.  I imagine the NCIS' 'open-Investigation' is still contributing to
> the incompletion of DoNCAF's periodic re-investigation (an SSBI, begun in
> August 2009), the results of which are required for the continuation of my
> 'SCI-eligibility.'
>    c.  Although selected for the grade of Lieutenant Colonel in February
> 2009 and having had the charge of Article 118 with three (3) specifications
> dismissed by CG, I MEF, I remain a Major.  I do not know if MMPR (Quantico,
> M&RA) is taking action on petitioning the SECNAV to remove the delay of
> promotion, which had been put in place during July 2010.
>    d.  I have been on-station at Camp Pendleton for forty-nine (49) months.
> Now, I haven't contacted the Monitor since September of 2009 - and, I don't
> intend to anytime soon.  But, I imagine my name is going to pop on his
> computer monitor, sooner or later, as being eligible to PCS.  I'm not
> avoiding the Monitor because, I'm trying to remain in the same geographic
> area; what I'm trying to do is get the promotion and clearance reinstated,
> prior to getting a new set of Orders.
> 
> 5.  Haytham, my friend, I didn't write to you today just so you could hear
> me whine...  Primarily, I'm writing about the question posed in Par. 1.
> Par. 2, 3, & 4 are really just to frame the pretty depressing situation I
> find myself in.  My life hasn't exactly been flooded with jubilation since
> we last saw each other in late-April.
> 
> Regards, Ted
> 
> MAJOR EDWARD THOMAS CARD, JR., USMC
> I MHG, I MEF
> (760) 696-0136 - Mobile
> 
>