Latest news with #Ellison
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman singing for postmistress mum in BGT final
A singer who is part of a choir performing in the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent this weekend said she would be singing in memory of her late mum, who was a sub-postmistress. Gemma Ellison, from Coventry, is part of the 40-strong Hear Our Voice choir, which is made of up of people affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal. She joined the choir to represent her mother Janet Bradbury, who ran a Post Office in Shropshire and was one of the original group of 555 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who took part in group legal action. In a statement, the Post Office has previously said it was "deeply sorry for the suffering caused to so many people" by its past actions. Speaking to BBC CWR, Ms Ellison said her mother took on a Post Office in 2003 but did not tell her or her sister until 2010. "It was meant to be their happy ever after," she said of the business. "After a couple of years that's when the shortfall started to happen and they put [their own] money in." Ms Ellison said he mother was eventually forced to move back to Warwick after losing her business and home and struggled to find permanent accommodation. "She'd always worked hard to own her own home and she'd lost everything and we were angry," she said. "I think for many years she was frightened that the police were going to knock on her door and drag her away." Ms Bradbury was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in September 2022, with the family saying that doctors told them that it made worse by long-term stress. MND is a debilitating and terminal condition, which affects people's ability to move, talk and breathe. Ms Bradbury died last year, one day after her grandson was born. After joining a support group for people affected by the scandal, Ms Ellison said the idea for a choir was born. She described the experience as "absolutely amazing" and said she had "found a new family". "Being in the choir, is something I'm doing for my mum," Ms Ellison told the BBC. "I think she'd be really proud and I think she's be so happy at last, that finally, people's voices are being heard and people are being recognised for what they've gone through. "She'd definitely be in the audience cheering on." The Post Office/Horizon IT scandal saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongfully prosecuted after faulty software suggested money was missing from their branch accounts. The Post Office said it acknowledged that victims of the scandal needed answers, as well as justice and redress. A spokesperson added: "The business failed to put postmasters first, did not listen to postmasters, and did not act on concerns postmasters raised with us. "We are doing all we can to help get victims answers, including fully co-operating with police investigations to help try to put things right." Fujitsu Group, which developed the software Horizon, said it offered its deepest apologies to the sub-postmasters and their families. A spokesperson added: "Fujitsu Europe's boss has previously said that the firm has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to compensation for sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted as a result of its faulty IT software." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. BGT Post Office scandal choir 'waiting for redress' Post Office choir delivers moving BGT performance Why were hundreds of Post Office workers wrongly prosecuted?
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Keyshawn Johnson suing NFL agent for $1 million in finder's fees
Former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is suing agent Chris Ellison for nearly $1 million in damages. Johnson argues he recruited several NFL players to sign with Ellison following an alleged agreement the two made years ago that Johnson would receive payment for his efforts. Johnson filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on May 23 and alleges he 'was to identify players, make the initial contact with them, and recruit them to be represented by' Ellison. The suit was first reported by TMZ. Johnson named four players that the lawsuit that he recruited to sign with Ellison: Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir The suit states that Ellison promised to pay Johnson a third of the 3% commission he made on each of the players' salaries. The suit states that the total comes to $962,335. Ellison told TMZ Sports he denies Johnson's claims in this lawsuit. If the two had an agreement and the named players were not aware of it, that could cause issues for Ellison. Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, agents are required to disclose those types of agreements to both their clients and the NFL Players Association. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Keyshawn Johnson suing NFL agent for $1 million in fees
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Keyshawn Johnson suing NFL agent for $1 million in finder's fees
Keyshawn Johnson suing NFL agent for $1 million in finder's fees Show Caption Hide Caption NFL keeps 'Tush Push' in play The NFL won't ban the 'Tush Push', keeping the Eagles' high-success play in the game—for now. Former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is suing agent Chris Ellison for nearly $1 million in damages. Johnson argues he recruited several NFL players to sign with Ellison following an alleged agreement the two made years ago that Johnson would receive payment for his efforts. Johnson filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on May 23 and alleges he 'was to identify players, make the initial contact with them, and recruit them to be represented by' Ellison. The suit was first reported by TMZ. Johnson named four players that the lawsuit that he recruited to sign with Ellison: The suit states that Ellison promised to pay Johnson a third of the 3% commission he made on each of the players' salaries. The suit states that the total comes to $962,335. Ellison told TMZ Sports he denies Johnson's claims in this lawsuit. If the two had an agreement and the named players were not aware of it, that could cause issues for Ellison. Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, agents are required to disclose those types of agreements to both their clients and the NFL Players Association.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ellison opposes appointment of Otto Bremer Trust trustee's daughter
A Ramsey County District Court judge on Friday will hear an unusual request from the Minnesota Attorney General's office, which hopes to remove a recently-appointed trustee from the helm of one of the state's oldest philanthropies, or at least slash her salary, impose training requirements and institute safeguards against future family appointments. When Charlotte Johnson retired last August after 34 years as one of the three leaders at the helm of the Otto Bremer Trust, she appointed her daughter as her successor. Until then, Caroline S. Johnson had served as a Bremer Bank branch manager in New Richmond, Wis., a rural community of some 10,000 residents. Based in St. Paul, the $1.5 billion philanthropy has been a major owner of the bank since its inception in 1943, and the charity's three trustees have chosen their own successors for the past 80 years. Those concerns reverberated with Ellison's office, which regulates charities. With her move from community banker team lead to trustee, Caroline Johnson became one of three co-chief executive officers of the multi-billion dollar philanthropy overseeing Bremer Bank. The bank is one of the state's largest farm lenders and recently merged with Indiana-based Old National Bank. Efforts to get comment from Caroline Johnson and the trust's attorneys for this story were unsuccessful as of Thursday morning. Her annual salary, according to the attorney general's office, increased nearly tenfold from $73,000 to $685,000. Her resume, according to the attorney general's office, did not reveal deep credentials administering sizable charities beyond her family roots. In 2023, the Otto Bremer Trust issued $105 million in grants and low-interest loans to charitable causes across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Montana. The attorney general's office, 'as representative of the charitable interests of the public, does not have sufficient assurances that the selection is in the best interest of the beneficiaries,' reads an April 16 legal filing from Ellison's office. 'Rather, trustees' continuing pattern of nepotism substantially undermines the trust of the public whom trustees are supposed to serve.' Ellison's office noted that while trustees have a tradition of choosing their own successors, state law requires that they 'must comply with their fiduciary duties of care and loyalty when exercising that discretion,' and that breaching those duties 'cannot have been the (founder's) intent.' A hearing before Judge Mark Ireland is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday at the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul. In their legal response to the attorney general's office, attorneys with Ciresi Conlin wrote that Ellison's office 'has never provided any evidence that her removal is necessary to best serve the interests of all beneficiaries.' Instead, it would in fact be inconsistent with both 80 years of practice and Otto Bremer's express preferences, spelled out in the trust's founding documents, that trustees select their own replacements. Newspaper delivery delayed on Thursday due to printing press issue Pigeons on a plane: Delta flight from MSP delayed when 2 birds sneak aboard Eagan city administrator to step down after 24 years with the city Stillwater: Water Street Inn's Chuck Dougherty named Lumberjack Days parade grand marshal Snelling Ave. and St. Clair Ave. intersection closing intermittently The attorney general's office 'relies primarily on arguments it made and lost three years ago' when the office attempted to block a bank sale in court, the attorneys wrote. 'This court has already rejected the (attorney general office's) campaign against what the (office) terms 'nepotism.' … Charlotte did all she was required to do, and Trustee Caroline has faithfully administered the Trust since then.' Charlotte and Caroline Johnson have joined the Otto Bremer Trust in objecting to the attorney general's petition and defending her credentials, as have trustees Daniel Reardon and Francis Miley, who both submitted affidavits to the court. Caroline Johnson's previous public service has included sitting on the board of directors and finance committee of the St. Croix Valley Food Bank during its capital campaign, serving on the board of directors of the Encampment Forest Association/Minnesota Land Trust, and serving for five years on the board of directors of the St. Croix County United Way, specifically its grants committee. Reardon noted that Otto Bremer selected his grandfather, his trusted tax consultant, as a trustee, who later selected his father, who later selected Reardon. He praised Caroline Johnson's 'high emotional intelligence' and said her intimate knowledge of both banking and relationship building were assets during the recent bank sale. 'I have known Caroline for over 30 years and have seen her evolve and grow both personally and professionally,' Reardon wrote, noting she had previously worked for Bremer Bank for seven years. 'This direct boots-on-the-ground experience in a Bremer branch bank was an excellent way to learn about the banking industry as well as Otto Bremer's philanthropic vision for the Trust,' Reardon wrote. 'Like me, Caroline grew up surrounded by the Trust. She learned about a life of service to Otto Bremer's vision at the dinner table, by joining Charlotte on Trust retreats, and other events over the last 30 years.' Ellison's office asked that the court adjust her salary and consider reviewing 'Caroline Johnson's skills and abilities and imposing training requirements and/or independent advisors as needed.' In her affidavit, Caroline Johnson noted she recently received a certificate from University of Minnesota Continuing and Professional Studies for completing a course on 'Leadership Essentials.' She also completed another course on 'Introduction to Trust Administration' at the University of Sioux Falls. Ellison's office has asked that even if the court does not remove Charlotte Johnson, that it require a more formal appointment process moving forward. Ellison's office previously alerted the courts they will take a hard look at the selection process if a trustee appointed a family member as a successor, said Brian Evans, a spokesperson for the attorney general's office. Charlotte Johnson 'did not use any kind of objective process, such as collecting a pool of qualified candidates, applying objective criteria to narrow those candidates, and then making a selection applying those criteria that best serves interests of the public whom the Trust serves,' said Evans, in an email. 'Despite the fact that Trustees justify their substantial compensation by comparing themselves to CEOs of large nonprofit foundations, Johnson did not take the steps expected of a large nonprofit when replacing a high-level executive,' he wrote. The attorney general's office has sought to remove trustees before. In August 2020, Ellison's office accused three trustees of attempting to inflate their compensation through a bank sale, among other forms of self-dealing. Following a 20-day bench trial, Judge Robert Awsumb chose to remove Brian Lipschultz as a trustee but retain Reardon and Charlotte Johnson. Lipschultz filed legal appeals, but they failed to sway the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court. He recently filed a legal request to have the Otto Bremer Trust pay his legal fees. Bremer Bank completed its sale to Old National earlier this month, creating the third-largest bank to the Twin Cities — as measured by deposits — and one of the top 25 banking companies headquartered in the U.S. As a result of the merger, the Otto Bremer Trust will retain an 11% ownership stake in Old National, and Reardon will join the Old National board of directors. Newspaper delivery delayed on Thursday due to printing press issue Pigeons on a plane: Delta flight from MSP delayed when 2 birds sneak aboard Eagan city administrator to step down after 24 years with the city Stillwater: Water Street Inn's Chuck Dougherty named Lumberjack Days parade grand marshal Snelling Ave. and St. Clair Ave. intersection closing intermittently
AU Financial Review
2 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Ellison shrugs off MinRes downgrade for haul road charm offensive
Mineral Resources founder Chris Ellison was wrapping up a pep talk to investors and analysts ahead of a site visit to the miner's $3 billion Onslow Iron project when news of a cut to its iron ore production hit the ASX. It was a difficult moment for Ellison, whose efforts to restore confidence in the troubled project and the accident-prone haul road that links its mine to a port were undermined in real-time by an update that highlighted its problems.
