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BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME XXXXVI NUMBER 45 $135 PER YEAR - $1.25 PER COPY •
THIS ISSUE
Brian Goldberg and Arden and Ethan Brown go to a PTA Meeting. 4
SWAROVSKI HOLIDAY HOOPLA— Jessica Alba with Kelly Patricof (CoPresident of BABY2BABY) at a party hosted by S w a r o v s k i Elements to herald the state of the art installation Monday Nov. 21 at Rodeo and Wilshire. Photo By Todd Williamson/ WireImage
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Donna Karan and Dr. David Feinberg announce a new partnership. 8
CHLA’s Henri Ford to receive National Humanism Award. 16 •Fashion 8 •Health & Wellness 16-17 •Arts & Entertainment 40 •Birthdays 44
Editorial from Rabbi Pressman AND MORE
CLASSIFIEDS • Announcements • Real Estate • Rentals • Sales • and More
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NOVEMBER 18, 2011
District officials, asserting they were bound by confidentiality provisions of the agreement, refused to comment. The settlement was won by the litigation firm of Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, known as one of the most expensive law firms in the country. District leaders, led by President Lisa Korbatov, came under fire for retaining a firm of that caliber because of the expense. The recovery far exceeds the district’s legal costs according to public records of the fees incurred. The Courier also learned that some members of the school board objected to pursuing the case, believing the District would not prevail and not wishing to incur the expense. The majority, however, believed the District had been wronged and insisted on pursuing the matter. The board intends to continue to pursue other substantial claims arising out of Christiansen’s activities.
Jury To Begin Deliberation On Christiansen Trial Today By Winston Chua and Marla Schevker Reporting from Dept. 102 of the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts Building Closing statements in the trial of former BHUSD Director of Planning and Facilities Karen Christiansen concluded yesterday after five days of witness testimony. Christiansen is accused
of four counts of felony conflict of interest in her role as employee or consultant to the Beverly Hills Unified School District. At the time Christiansen negotiated contracts for BHUSD with Johnson Controls Inc., (“JCI”) that corporation was paying her company, Strategic Con(see ‘CHRISTIANSEN,’ page 42)
MTA Will Mail Propaganda Flier Council Ok’s $700,000 For City The Courier has learned that The Courier’s analysis that the the Metropolitan Transit Authority study, if accurate, would prohibit Building With No Plans, 3-2 will mail to each resident of new construction along Santa Beverly Hills a four-page color brochure summarizing its case for a tunnel under Beverly Hills High School for its Westside Subway Extension.The Courier obtained an advance copy. The brochure lists a few of MTA’s arguments in favor of the tunnel, summarizing some of the items in MTA’s recent fault study about the Century City area. The piece does not dispute
Monica Boulevard in Century City as an “Earthquake Fault Zone” under the Alquist-Priolo Act. The piece also fails to respond to The Courier’s more comprehensive analysis of MTA’s argument. That detailed analysis remains on www.bhcourier.com. Last week, pro-MTA fliers were placed on the windshields of many cars around Beverly Hills public schools. THEY’RE BACK— Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner greeted the crowds during the world premiere of Summit Entertainment’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn at L.A. Live. More photos in George Christy’s column on page 6. Photo by Alex J. Berliner/ ABImages
George Christy, Page 6 The Royal Mounties Came To Town, And The Canadian Four Tenors Entertained At The Roots Store’s Party Hosted By Founder And Partner Michael Budman And His Designer Wife Diane
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District Scores Big Cash Win Against Contractor By Bill Arp This week, the Beverly Hills Unified School District settled its claims against multinational Johnson Controls, Inc., receiving $5 million in cash and $1,650,000 in future equipment purchases. The claims against JCI were based on purchase contracts negotiated by former district employee Karen Christiansen of Strategic Concepts, Inc. Unknown to the BHUSD, Christiansen was a paid “consultant” to JCI when she recommended a $7.5 million purchase of JCI goods and services by the BHUSD Board of Education. Christiansen was later charged with a felony by the Los Angeles County District Attorney for her actions. Closing arguments in her trial began yesterday in the downtown Criminal Courts building. The district received the funds Wednesday by wire transfer. The actual settlement agreement was obtained by The Courier under the California Public Records Act.
EH National Bank opens a new branch. 4
The Belvedere offers a Thanksgiving meal.
www.bhcourier.com
The Beverly Hills City Council approved in a typical 3-2 vote hiring contractor C.W. Driver to manage construction of a new $11.4 million public works department warehouse and shops. The contract is for $619,765 and contingency of $75,000. Reform councilmembers John Mirisch and Lili Bosse voted against the appropriation. The matter was presented initially on the “consent calendar” to avoid public discussion. Mirisch and Bosse objected. No plans for the building exist. The idea for the building
dates to June 2009 when the City Council approved an agreement with RTK Architects Inc. for conceptual drawings. Nothing concrete was given to the council in regards to building plans. Bosse said she experienced complete shock, to be asked to approve nearly $700,000 to hire a project manager for a City building still in its “concept” phase. “No working plans were presented to us,” Bosse said. “There was not enough information given to me to make an in(see ‘PUBLIC WORKS,’ page 42)
Courier Calls Election! By Krystal Leach de Amante With the official results not yet released, The Courier Monday projected incumbent Brian Goldberg, write-in candidate Noah Margo and Lewis Hall the Board of Education election winners.
As of press time, the results for the BHUSD’s boardmember election clearly show Goldberg leading with 2,217 votes, Margo second with 1,204, and Hall placed third with 978 votes. Frances Bilak received 917 and (see ‘ELECTION,’ page 39)
IS HE THE WORLD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR?—George Clooney and his wrestler girlfriend Stacy Keibler attended the Beverly Hills premiere of Fox Searchlight’s The Descendants with his costar Shallene Woodley. Inset: Director Alexander Payne. More photos in George Christy’s column on page 6. Photos by Gilbert Flores /Celebrity Photo; Fox Searchlight