An anonymous comment here at Legal Schnauzer, about a beloved cereal commercial from the 1970s and '80s, has turned into a splendid post -- both amusing and insightful about the David Roberson lawsuit against Drummond Company -- at banbalch.com.
Publisher K.B. Forbes hits just the right tone under the headline “'Let’s Get Mikey! He likes it. Hey Mikey!” Drummond’s General Counsel Blake Andrews Under Fire." The post is light-hearted because . . . well, it's about one of the most clever, long-running (14 years) commercials in television history. But there is a serious undertone because the commercial seems to actually reflect the mindset of Drummond officials who allegedly set up Roberson as the fall guy in the North Birmingham Superfund bribery scandal.
Here is the comment-- published 11/5/20 -- that set Forbes' post aflight:
- Anonymous said...
This routine reminds me of the great cereal commercial from back in the day, where the kids said, "Hey Mikey, you try it." Except this is, "Hey Roberson, you pay the invoice."
- November 5, 2020 at 12:07 PM
Writes Forbes:
We have no bones to pick with Drummond Company whatsoever. None.
But walking goosestep with embattled law firm Balch & Bingham is detrimental to one’s health, livelihood, and reputation.
Just ask Jeff Sessions, Luther Strange, or disgraced ex-U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town among others.
Even former Drummond CEO Mike Tracy abruptly “retired” last year after cuddling up with Balch, and after the alleged set-up of “fall guy” ex-Drummond executive David Roberson was exposed.
Now, Blake Andrews , General Counsel of Drummond Company is under fire for allegedly conspiring with Tracy to allegedly have Roberson sign off on all invoices and payments involved in the North Birmingham Bribery Scheme.
Andrews appears to have been so “confused” by the invoices from the money laundering operation, Andrews allegedly had Roberson take the fall.
An anonymous commentator on the well read legal blog Legal Schnauzer wrote:
Forbes then ties the comment, and the commercial, into the real world:
In the years that Roberson worked for Drummond, he never, ever reviewed or signed-off on any Alabama legal invoices. Ever.
Why then, did Blake Andrews allegedly have Roberson sign-off and approve all the legal invoices from Balch & Bingham seeking reimbursement for payments made by Balch on behalf of Drummond to the Oliver Robinson Foundation?
Was Blake Andrews indeed “confused” or did he willingly know that these payments were illegal?
Roberson is not a lawyer; he is a biologist.
Andrews appears to have been the same legal counselor who hired Roberson’s criminal defense team that rejected a full-immunity deal.
As we wrote in the summer of 2019:
NOW FOR THE SHOCKER: In the North Birmingham Bribery Case, Dave Roberson was offered an immunity deal if he had testified against Balch & Bingham, according to insiders.
Why didn’t he testify? Why didn’t he take the deal?
Roberson had faith in Drummond Company. He was loyal, and Drummond declared their support after his criminal conviction [in July of 2018], calling him a “man of integrity.”
Six months later in February [of 2019], Drummond, showing little integrity, reversed course and fired Roberson.
With a new Administration entering, a new group of U.S. Attorneys arriving, and aggressive talk against environmental racism, Drummond CEO Richard Mullen, who likes to save money or make money, should break the chains with Balch, put the North Birmingham matter behind him, and “retire” Blake Andrews.
Not only does it appear that Drummond Company received bad legal advice from Balch & Bingham, they also appear to have been led foolishly by their own General Counsel.
Mullen needs to mop up Andrews’ ugly mess and separate Drummond Company from Balch & Bingham once and for all.
