By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 28 – Robert N. Sama, 69, was terminated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on February 19, 2020. He had worked there since 2007.
He filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on December 10, 2020 - Inner City Press reported it that same day. And now on October 27, 2021, the move to settle with no transparency, see below.
From the complaint we learn that "each FRS Bank maintains an on-site law enforcement commad called a Law Enforcement Unit."
Sama was Vice President of the FRBNY's LEU. He had previously been with the FBI for 29 years.
After Sama's "escorted ejection," his job was given to LEU Captain Ronald Porter, who was "jumped three level" to handle Sama's LEU responsibilities. Here is Sama in a Fed report, as Vice President, Federal Reserve Law Enforcement. Law, indeed.
His complaint has been assigned to SDNY Judge Valerie E. Caproni, and Magistrate Stewart D. Aaron.
On February 9, the FRBNY filed an answer via an outside law firm, arguing among other things that the SDNY "lacks subject matter jurisdiction," that Sama "failed to mitigate his alleged damages" and that State and City claims are "preempted by federal law."
Similarly, the Federal Reserve says that the FRBNY and other Reserve Banks are not subject to FOIA. Why then can they approve bank mergers? Inner City Press has FOIA requests pending.
On October 27, amid a scandal about conflicted stock trading by Federal Reserve Bank presidents and others, the FRBNY's outside counsel filed a letter to Judge Caproni that "the parties have reach an agreement to settle this matter and are in the process of finalizing the settlement agreement."
And on October 28, it was nailed down: "ORDER: WHEREAS on October 27, 2021 (Dkt. 28), the parties notified the Court that they have reached an agreement in principle resolving all issues; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT all previously scheduled conferences and other deadlines are CANCELLED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED with prejudice and without costs (including attorneys fees) to either party. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate all open motions and to CLOSE the case. Within 30 days of this order, the parties may apply to reopen this case. Any such application must show good cause for holding the case open in light of the parties settlement and must be filed within 30 days. Any request filed after 30 days or without a showing of good cause may be denied solely on that basis. Additionally, if the parties wish for the Court to retain jurisdiction to enforce their settlement agreement, they must submit within the same 30-day period: (1) their settlement agreement to the Court in accordance with Rule 6.A of the Courts Individual Practices and (2) a request that the Court issue an order expressly retaining jurisdiction to enforce the settlement agreement. See Hendrickson v. United States, 791 F.3d 354 (2d Cir. 2015). SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Valerie E. Caproni on 10/28/2021)." But what are the terms of the settlement? If company are pushed to disclose this, how much more so the Fed? Uh, Congress?
The case is Sama v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 20-cv-10450 (Caproni)
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