- http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/06/ties_between_nonprofit_and_ex-.html
- http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/08/birmingham_health_cares_ceo_be.html
- http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/07/regulators_point_to_poor_manag.html
- http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/11/judge_orders_epositions_of_bir.html
Provide names of other journalists involved.
Hannah Wolfson
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
June 24, 2012 (original story)
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Through records and interviews, the News found that the CEO of a pioneering nonprofit health care clinic for the poor and homeless developed a network of companies that landed contracts totaling more than $2 million with the clinics he oversaw raising serious conflict of interest questions. The News also found the organization which received millions yearly in taxpayer dollars did not properly disclose these relationships on tax forms as legally required..
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Records used include: 1) IRS Forms 990 2) Federal grant documents, some obtained by the Freedom of Information Act. 3)State corporation records. 4) Local property and probate records.
Explain types of human sources used.
From the beginning, the organization’s lawyer advised board members and employees not to speak with the News. But current and former employees did talk to the News, some on the record and some off. Also others who had business relationship with the health care organizations also filled in some details.
Results:
Sources have said federal authorities have contacted them.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
We have had no corrections or challenges. We’ve written about a half-dozen follow-ups burrowing deeper into the CEO’s real estate deals, links to a failed credit union,and allegations of workplace harassment
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Documents are key. Learn what documents are available that may help your story. But realize that documents, especially from federal sources may come late or never or heavily redacted. We still have a number of pending FOIA requests unfulfilled and we received one document from the National Credit Union Administration that was so redacted as to be incomprehensible. Don’t be afraid to ask for expertise in analyzing the documents. We used real estate sources, nonprofit sources and banking sources to get a handle on some of the paperwork we obtainedDocuments are key. Learn what documents are available that may help your story. But realize that documents, especially from federal sources may come late or never or heavily redacted. We still have a number of pending FOIA requests unfulfilled and we received one document from the National Credit Union Administration that was so redacted as to be incomprehensible. Don’t be afraid to ask for expertise in analyzing the documents. We used real estate sources, nonprofit sources and banking sources to get a handle on some of the paperwork we obtained.