Posted on 11/06/2007 8:20:56 AM PST by pulaskibush
The plaintiffs in a lawsuit accusing Tyson Foods Inc. of hiring illegal aliens to work at poultry plants are focusing on the meat producer’s relationship with the League of Latin American Citizens. The class-action suit in U. S. District Court in Eastern Tennessee claims Springdale-based Tyson Foods knowingly hired illegal aliens to work for wages below what American workers would take. It was filed in April 2002 on behalf of former Tyson workers in several states, not including Arkansas. Trial is set for March 3. The plaintiffs in Trollinger v. Tyson are chicken plant workers who said they were harmed by a scheme by Tyson’s top management to depress wages, court documents state. “We believe Tyson has used its relationship with LULAC to help carry out a ‘willful blindness’ policy of hiring illegal workers,” said the plaintiffs ’ attorney, Howard W. Foster of Chicago. “Tyson is very close with LULAC, especially in Springdale, and we’re alleging that the groups have agreed not to investigate workers who are suspected illegal aliens.” Last week, the former director of the Arkansas chapter of the League of Latin American Citizens filed a motion to avoid giving a deposition in the case. In October, LULAC’s Housing Commission fought subpoenas seeking evidence in the case.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said the company continues to deny claims in the suit and will file a motion for summary judgment mid-month. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for hiring people who are not authorized to work in the United States,” Mickelson said. “We value our relationships with various advocacy groups, including those representing the Hispanic community. Claims that those relationships are improper are not only false, but they are absurd.”An amended complaint filed in 2005 added the allegation that Tyson used its relationship with LULAC to “facilitate the hiring of illegal aliens.” Foster wouldn’t elaborate beyond what is in the complaint. Charles Cervantes, director of the Arkansas chapter of LULAC, said the league’s partnership with Tyson is geared at Hispanic advocacy efforts, such as curbing poverty and improving education. “We would never tell Tyson or any of our corporate sponsors to hire undocumented workers,” Cervantes said. “Absolutely not. Nor would we turn our heads to that. Besides, LULAC doesn’t tell its sponsors how to operate. That’s not our format.” Tyson is one of many corporations across the country, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., with which LULAC has “corporate sponsorships,” he said. LULAC is not a defendant in the suit. The plaintiffs, however, have been gathering third-party evidence from the nonprofit league, including taking a deposition in August of LULAC national executive director Brent Wilkes, court records show. Foster said the suit is filed under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act, alleging Tyson committed wrongdoing by working with other groups or organizations.
It’s one of the first suits to allege “illegal immigrant hiring scheme” under the RICO law, he said. Last week, R. Shawn McGrew, former Arkansas LULAC executive director, filed a motion in U. S. District Court in Fayetteville to quash a subpoena to give a deposition in the case. McGrew couldn’t be reached and his attorney, Ray Niblock of Fayetteville, didn’t return calls. The motion states that the plaintiffs want to ask Mc-Grew about whether he lobbied against Arkansas anti-immigration legislation, in particular, Act 907 of 2005, which authorized the State Police to designated officers to enforce federal immigration law. Last month, 19 officers in Washington and Benton counties began working under the supervision of U. S. Immigration Customs Enforcement under what’s known as the 287 (g ) program. Cervantes said LULAC opposes local police enforcing federal immigration law because it creates opportunities for racial profiling and can violate the rights of people who can’t immediately produce identification when asked by police. LULAC can exercise its First Amendment right to express its views on pending legislation when it pleases, Cervantes said. “If Shawn [McGrew ] went and lobbied against 287 (g ), that’s OK,” said Cervantes, who succeeded McGrew as state director in 2006. “That’s his American right.” Foster said LULAC’s National Housing Commission fought a subpoena last month but has since agreed to turn over documents. He wouldn’t say what the documents are.
The Housing Commission helps low- to moderate-income Hispanics with housing needs and issues, according to its Web site. Foster said other evidence in the suit includes depositions with and computer hard-drive evidence from defendants, who include John Tyson, chairman of the Tyson board of directors; Archie Schaffer III, a senior vice president; and Richard Bond, chief executive officer. Defendants in the suit are not the same former Tyson bosses who were indicted in 2001 in U. S. District Court in Tennessee on charges of conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens for work. A jury acquitted those three defendants in 2003. “Those were mid-level managers,” Foster said. “These defendants are top executives.” Mickelson said the civil suit is largely based on claims made in the failed 2001 federal indictments.
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There are a couple of plants in bristol Tennessee that would fit right in for a good RICO suite. I would say any company that advertises that the speak Spanish could be considered fresh game.
This list is representative, and by no means all-inclusive of the hundreds of groups supporting immigration Amnesty.
"Though no one wants to reward illegal behavior, we must find a way for these workers to come forward, make good on the past and participate in a program that leads to permanent residency and eventual citizenship."
http://www.meatami.com/1CQImmigrationAd030206.pdf
The Rogues Gallery Of Co-Signatories To The Above Statement:
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The Illegal Immigration rope will get the Yuckabee too!
If I was a blood-sucking lawyer, I’d be going after these guys pronto.
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I have been boycotting Tyson Foods for years. Ever since I found out about their funding Slick and Hitlery.
Perdue done it....
One can only ROTFLTAO after reading the above list of signoratory senors’...........
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005
By Wesley Brown
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.
"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.
Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.
About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.
Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.
He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."
Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."
"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."
During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.
Oh, it's much more of a hoot than that.
For example, take this single AMI member, add its members, and you get this:
National Council of Chain Restaurants
AFC Enterprises
Brinker International, Inc.
Burger King Corp.
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide
Chick-Fil-A
CKE Restaurants, Inc.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Denny’s Inc.
Domino’s Pizza Inc.
Dunkin’ Brands
El Pollo Loco
IHOP Corporation
In-N-Out Burger International Dairy Que
en, Inc. Jack in the Box Inc.
Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.
McDonald’s Corporation
Perkins & Marie Callender's, Inc.
Sonic Corporation
Starbucks Coffee Company
Sticky Fingers
The Krystal Company
Texas Roadhouse
Waffle House Inc.
Whataburger, Inc.
White Castle System, Inc.
Yum! Brands
You can do that with any and all of the corporate AMI signatories, e.g.
AMI lobbying = NCCR lobbying = Mcdonalds, BK, KFC, and Chic-fil-a lobbying.
It's the same as is used in money laundering and other criminal enterprises: phony "associations" lobby for other phony "advocacy groups" which together lobby Congress for for their "real" clients
Does the name “RICO” strike a familiar key?
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