Filing Summary

Attorney George C. Douglas, who purports to represent “several members” of the NRA, wrote a letter to Judge Cohen concerning the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit against the NRA. It is unclear who, or how many, NRA members Mr. Douglas represents.

First, the attorney claims that the Attorney General’s office was required to give notice of the lawsuit to all members of the NRA.  The letter seems to suggest that could be accomplished via email. (p.1-2).  The letter predicts “once the NRA membership is notified of this action… it is quite likely that many NRA members will oppose dissolution but agree that if the Attorney General proves that defendant LaPierre is in fact a ‘faithless fiduciary’ then he should be removed from office and pay restitution and damages as demanded by the Attorney General.” (p.5)

Second, the attorney claims that the NRA’s counsel – the Brewer law firm – has several possible conflicts of interest.  As one example, the letter notes that the Brewer law firm represents Wayne LaPierre personally in a case in the Northern District of  Texas (chronicled here at NRA Watch), but in the pending New York litigation the firm represents the NRA.  The letter notes “if the Attorney General’s claims are proven that the NRA has the right to receive restitution and damages from LaPierre, and the NRA is therefore materially adverse to LaPierre in this action, or at the very least is potentially so.” (p.4)   

The letter also points out that the Brewer law firm is likely to be called as a witness in the New York litigation due to the allegations as to the amount of Brewer’s legal fees and the “alleged lack of NRA audit or review of those fees.” (p.5)

As a remedy, the letter asks that pending motions be delayed until NRA members can be given notice of the suit and then heard on the conflict issues raised.  Judge Cohen has asked that the parties in the case file letters responding to the issues raised in the letter by November 19, 2020.