After almost a year of litigation, including mediation within the Local Aerie, and
with a Certified Circuit Court Mediator (both mediation attempts reaching an impasse), a
settlement has been reached which puts the litigation to rest. The Final Judgment of
the 8th Judicial Circuit Court reinstates the Charter of Local Aerie #4194, which has been suspended by the Grand Aerie for a year; removes D. John Gingras as Agent for the Local Aerie; and provides that Gingras shall not be commissioned as Agent or in any other capacity to supervise or oversee the operation of Local Aerie #4194 in the future. The litigation was commenced in response to the Grand Aerie suspending the
Charter of Local Aerie #4194; removing virtually all of the duly elected Officers and
Trustees; and taking control of the Local Aerie, including all of the real and personal
property of the Local Aerie, through Gingras, an Agent of the Grand Aerie,. By an Affiliation Agreement between the Grand Aerie and the Local Aerie, the
Grand Aerie is required, by contract, to recognize the autonomy of the Local Aerie, its
general jurisdiction over its members, and its power and authority to conduct the
business of the Local Aerie, not in conflict with the laws of the Order.
In conjunction with the reinstatement of the Charter of Cedar Key Aerie #4194, and the
removal of Agent Gingras, access and control of all real and personal property of the
Local Aerie will be restored to the Local Aerie so that the Local Aerie can resume its
operation and conduct its business with autonomy. |
