By Guest Columnist Robert Burns
Tom recently posted that Louisiana Sen. Rick Gallot may have used his influence to expedite and circumvent safety standards for a private school. Another Louisiana Senator, Francis Thompson (D-Delhi) may have well had his son, Brant, utilize his dad’s status to obtain fair and equitable treatment from the Louisiana Auctioneer Licensing Board (LALB). He was fully entitled to such fair and equitable treatment, but it begs the question as to why other Louisiana citizens, especially elderly widow auction victims, are given the shaft.
In early 2012, Brant Thompson allegedly consigned merchandise to auctioneer Bruce Miller. I use the word “allegedly” because, at a May 6, 2014 hearing, LALB investigator Jim Steele, as evidenced by this 4-second video clip, said, “There’s no indication that Mr. Thompson was a consignor at this auction whatsoever.” Nobody knows what may have happened to Mr. Thompson’s items, and auctioneer Bruce Miller died of a massive heart attack two days after his last auction. Mr. Thompson never received a dime for his items, nor did he ever even see his merchandise again. Understandably, Mr. Thompson got upset and justifiably filed a complaint with the LALB. Like so many other complainants, Mr. Thompson was frustrated when he received this brief letter from LALB attorney Anna Dow dated 1/16/14 indicating that, because the LALB could not ascertain if a violation had occurred, it was “closing the investigation……No further action will be taken.”
Thompson, like many other aggrieved complainants, wasn’t happy, so he drafted this terse two-page response dated 2/3/14. He indicated that he “takes exception” to the finding and states that “The system designed to protect me failed.” He emphasized that he was aware auctioneers carry a bond, and he relayed that he expected that bond to cover his alleged losses. Mr. Thompson is correct in his assessment that the LALB failed him, but it has done the same for a litany of other complainants. Mr. Thompson, however, was shrewd enough to copy Ms. Holly Robinson, Gov. Jindal’s then-Heard of Boards and Commissions. Obviously, Ms. Robinson would be very familiar with the fact Brant is Francis’ son. What transpired upon Robinson’s receipt of the letter? Who knows, but we do know this: in lightening-fast speed, the LALB, in an unprecedented move, not only “reopened” a closed investigation, but it actually conducted a full-blown hearing (on a deceased auctioneer) on 5/6/14. Remember Mr. Thompson’s goal of collecting on Miller’s bond. Now, watch this brief one-minute video clip excerpt from the hearing. Notice how Mr. Thompson is gently guided regarding the bond’s parameters (that it’s for $10,000 and has a 3-year filing period in which the LALB can file for him). Mr. Thompson, who speaks in a smooth and cavalier manner, is spoken to in turn by LALB members and its attorney in an almost reverent-like manner. The LALB not only filed the bond for Mr. Thompson, but in breakneck speed, he received a $3,500 check from the bonding company in early October of 2014 even though the company said the itemized list it was provided depicted ordinary household items that were “virtually worthless.”
Let’s contrast Mr. Thompson’s revered status as a Louisiana senator’s son with the tone and attitude taken with complainant Judy Fasola. In late 2012, Ms. Fasola contracted with notoriously-problematic auctioneer Ken Buhler for the disposition of her terminally-ill, 93-year-old mother’s estate. Ms. Fasola asserted at her hearing, which was in March of 2013, that Mr. Buhler adamantly refused to place reserves on her marque items and instead, over time, just kept defiantly selling them at pennies on the dollar (Fasola relayed she later learned Buhler sold many marque items to his own mother, mother-in-law, and other Buhler relatives) against her express desire and instructions. When she threatened an LALB complaint, he finally returned what few items he hadn’t sold in defiance of her instructions, and Fasola relayed he did so in a fit of anger, slamming her items on her floor and breaking most items in the process. Fasola filed an LALB complaint, and the LALB fined his father, Mac, who is not an auctioneer but was deemed the responsible party for Ken’s company, Estate Auction Services, $500 for “sloppy recordkeeping.” Due to Ken’s license being revoked from 2005-2010 (due to massive consignor losses), the LALB insisted that Mac oversee all negotiations and communication with customers. Ken had defied that restriction in negotiating with Ms. Fasola, but she was unaware of the LALB restrictions on Ken’s license. Ms. Fasola, like Brant, repeatedly asked the LALB to file a bond claim for her, but the LALB has steadfastly refused to do so. When Ms. Fasola learned of Mr. Thompson’s ease of obtaining a bond payment, she was understandably upset and requested to be heard on the matter at the 11/5/14 meeting to air her frustrations. Let’s examine, mainly through video excerpts of the meeting, just how she got treated.
Fasola began by giving an introductory statement relaying how she, like Brant, felt the system had failed her, and she asked if she may have been treated more fairly “if I were the daughter of a Louisiana State Senator?” LALB Vice Chairman James Sims tersely denied any knowledge that Brant was the son of a Louisiana senator until “seven days after the hearing.” There simply is no way to adequately place in words the hostility shown toward Ms. Fasola (and me, for that matter) at the meeting, so I ask readers’ indulgence in watching a 9-minute video clip of the highlights of Ms. Fasola’s presentation, along with captions wherein Ms. Fasola catches board members, attorneys, and the executive director in one contradiction and falsehood after another (proven by video clips merged into this 9-minute video clip which I strongly encourage readers to watch). In watching the video, it becomes apparent why I videotape these meetings because these board members flat-out misrepresent what they’ve said and done in prior meetings.
Now, in the above 9-minute video clip, considerable focus was placed on the above-mentioned restrictions on Ken Buhler’s license. When Estate Auction Services (Mac Buhler) was fined $500 and found guilty in March of 2013, the bonding company immediately canceled its bond. As mentioned above, Ken, pursuant to the restrictions on his license, was totally dependent upon his dad to remain in business; however, his dad could no longer operate due to lack of a bond. How did the LALB solve Ken’s problem in that regard? They simply convened another “hearing” on May 20, 2013 for the sole purpose of removing all restrictions on Ken’s license. Nevertheless, as evidenced by the video clip, LALB Vice Chairman James Sims kept insisting (incorrectly, on no less that three occasions) that the restrictions were lifted prior to Fasola’s auction. In reality, the restrictions were lifted after and as a result of Fasola’s auction. Hence, as Fasola pointed out, Buhler was actually rewarded for his victimizing of her! Also, although LALB Chairman Tessa Steinkamp literally blew a gasket at the 6:27 mark of the video when Fasola referenced concerns for her personal safety when dealing with Ken Buhler, Ms. Fasola had genuine reason for concern. Even as she was dealing with him, he was arrested and criminally charged for domestic abuse against his wife (the latest court date is Monday, 11/10/14). Additionally, Mr. Buhler was also found to have civil liability for the fraudulent use of interstate commerce instrumentalities in Federal Court in mid-2011. The LALB was notified of that fact, but they were completely indifferent to the fact it transpired, notwithstanding the fact that his liability entailed securities fraud directly related to his auction business.
As evidenced by the preceding video clip, the LALB basically continued to tell Ms. Fasola to “go to hell” regarding its filing her bond claim for her. Quite a contrast to the reverent tone taken with Brant Thompson, son of State Sen. Francis Thompson, huh? What’s alarming is the sheer number of elderly victims of auctioneers. Let me provide the following table of four such instances that readily come to mind:
| Auction Victim’s Name | Reason for Auction | Auctioneer and Appx. Date |
| Ms. Linda Williams | Liquidating 91-year-old mother’s belongings days before her death. Click here to listen to an impassioned plea by Ms. Williams for the LALB to NOT reinstate Ken Buhler’s license in 2010. | Ken Buhler. Months prior to his auction license being revoked in 2005. |
| Mr. David Swift | Liquidating the belongings of his 80-something father soon after his death. | Gary & Randy Hayes (business applicants like Mac Buhler), two guys who, to their credit, told the LALB at their 1/14 hearing, “We never should have been granted a license.” They went on to relay they’d lost over $100,000 of their retirement savings and would NEVER be in the auction business again. |
| Ms. Judy Fasola | Liquidating 93-year-old terminally-ill mother’s belongings months before her imminent death. | Ken Buhler. September, 2012. |
| Ms. Betty Story | Liquidating her belongings (and two homes) in order to move into an assisted living facility in Alexandria, LA. LA Voice readers may recall this 9/27/14 post on what a disaster her auction was. I’m happy to report that Ms. Story, serving as a pro se litigant (at 84 years old!!), scored a major victory in 36th JDC on 10/29/14 when Judge Martha O’Neal stopped the trial after Ms. Story presented only her second witness, with Judge O’Neal saying, “I’ve heard all I need to hear.” When auctioneer Schmidt asked if he’d be permitted to put on his defense and call witnesses, O’Neal said, “Yes, but you’re not going to be able to undo the damage you’ve already done on this witness stand in answering my questions,” (Story had him on the witness stand under direct examination). Click here if you’d like to watch a post-trial interview with Ms. Story. Her LALB litigation remains ongoing. | Marlo Schmidt. November 17, 2012. |
I recently made a public records request of the LALB seeking all bond claims it has ever filed. They could produce only two: Mr. Thompson and Mr. Swift. It’s interesting to note that these two claims were likely filed (beyond Thompson’s status as a Louisiana Senator’s son) because there would be no auctioneer pushback in either case. Mr. Miller is dead, so he won’t get upset. Gary and Randy Hayes, as evidenced by the brief video clip above, readily stated they’ll never be in the auction business again (hence no pushback from them). In sharp contrast, Ken Buhler and Marlo Schmidt are active auctioneers who would be very upset with LALB members if claims were filed against their bonds!
I’d like to conclude this Louisiana Voice post by expressing gratitude to Tom because I’ve presented the above cases to MSM outlets in Baton Rouge. While an Advocate reporter has expressed strong interest in publishing LALB elderly victimizations, his editors have said, “It’s a small board and nobody will read the article.” Further, 13 months ago, Ms. Linda Williams, the first victim listed above, suggested that I contact Chris Nakamoto of Channel 2 here in Baton Rouge. I still maintain a computer folder of numerous emails back-and-forth between Mr. Nakamoto and myself regarding a television investigative report on elderly abuse by auctioneers. He did qualify any such potential report, however, with the fact that, like the Advocate reporter, his editors too had to give the “thumbs up.” All I can tell Louisiana Voice readers is that, days prior to New Year’s Day of 2014, Mr. Nakamoto ceased all communication with me without even so much as a courtesy explanation of why he’d gone from responding to my emails within hours (often minutes) to suddenly no response at all.
In closing, if you or anyone you know is considering hiring an auctioneer, you owe it to yourself to visit Consumer Option # 2 on LAPA’s website, which is an alphabetical index of auctioneer issues since LAPA’s archive began in 2010 and also Consumer Option # 3 on LAPA’s website, which is guidance on conducting auctioneer due diligence. If it’s not conducted, the results, as illustrated above, can be devastating.
Lastly, anyone knowing of an elderly person (or the caretaker of such an individual) who is considering hiring an auctioneer, please bookmark this post and forward it to them. Why? Because auctioneers exist out there who view such elderly prospective clients just like lambs headed for slaughter.
Regrettably, we have a Governor and his LALB appointees who are only too happy to help with hoisting the guillotine.
Louisiana Voice 
Would Jindal want his mother’s affairs dealt with by such thugs? Guess these morons feared Jindal would axe them if Thompson couldn’t collect on a dead man’s bond. It’s interesting the investigator said there was no evidence Thompson even consigned anything. Was Thompson dumb enough not to insist on a contract?
No, Mr. Weisen, Mr. Thompson was not that dumb. Here is a link for the “contract” (interestingly, undated) as well as an investigative report by Jim Steele: http://www.auctioneer-la.org/Steele_Investigative_Miller.pdf.
As you can tell from Mr. Steele’s report, he is of the firm belief that the merchandise was stolen. He also says that the records do not reflect any sale of the merchandise notwithstanding statements by another auctioneer and on-again, off-again, business associate (and fellow auctioneer), Joe Massey, to the contrary.
Also interestingly, at the 11/5/14 meeting, Vice Chairman James Sims relayed the LALB got “new information” indicating the goods were stolen. Remember, the investigation was closed in January of 2014. Mr. Steele’s report (dated June of 2013, six months BEFORE the investigation was closed) clearly states a firm belief the goods were stolen (thus debunking any “new stolen revelation” as the justification for reopening the investigation).
Lastly, here’s a link for Mr. Douglas Driggers (attorney for estate of Bruce Miller even though no claim was being made against the estate) challenging Mr. Thompson’s statements that the items on the “contract” at the prior link are indeed antiques (vs., as the bonding company asserted, “household goods which have little or no value”): http://youtu.be/nU-J1KpqJK4. The whole reason Mr. Thompson got $3,500 for his items (likely as much as 10 times what they were worth) was because the LALB put “all its weight” behind the claim!! It’s THAT simple! That’s the kind of favors you apparently can get when you’re the son of a state senator.
Having worked closely with Mr. Steele for several years, I know him to be an excellent investigator. I find it highly unusual that Mr. Thompson would not want to pursue a criminal complaint on his missing goods. Why not let the authorities conduct an investigation and pursue the most likely suspects(s) and see what shakes out? Could there have been collusion among any of the parties involved? It certainly gives one reason to pause and ponder.
It is shameful that the mainstream local media continue to ignore these outrageous abuses. Even when the stories are sometimes picked up, they get 8 to 16 seconds of coverage & none of Jindal’s “explanations” (lies!) are ever challenged!
9-minute video is a real doozy! Attorney Larry Bankston bites Mr. Burns head off only 1 minute into the video. Didn’t Bankston have some kind of problem with the Feds while he was a senator himself? Guess the senate is like a frat. Always protect a brother (Thompson) and to hell with the old ladies.
From Wikipedia:
In 1994, Bankston, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met in his law office with Fred Goodson, the owner of a video poker truck stop in Slidell in St. Tammany Parish. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bankston and Goodson discussed a plan to manipulate the legislative process so as to protect the interests of the video poker companies. In return, the key lawmakers would net clandestine financial interests in the video poker truck stops.[13]
C. B. Forgotston, an attorney, government watchdog, and an opponent of gambling, then from New Orleans but now in Hammond, referred to the Bankston case, accordingly: “It’s one of the things we were worried about in the beginning: that it [gambling] would totally corrupt our political system. … People would just laugh and say our system is already corrupt. But you’ve never seen anything like this.”[13]
On October 4, 1996, Bankston was indicted on five counts of racketeering.[1]In 1997, Bankston was found guilty on two of the counts. One count was the acceptance of a bribe from Fred Goodson. The bribe was phantom “rent” of $1,555 monthly paid to Bankston for “non-use” of the lawmaker’s beachfront condominium in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Prosecutors determined the arrangement a “bribe” and a “sham”. He was given a 41-month sentence and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. Bankston served most of his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Beaumont, Texas.[1][14]While in prison, Bankston appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, but the judges upheld his conviction on July 27, 1999.[15]
Bankston was released from the Bureau of Prisons on November 6, 2000,[16] and he then served a remaining portion of the sentence in a half-way house in Baton Rouge.[14]On March 9, 2002, Bankston was disbarred by the Louisiana Supreme Court, retroactive to November 19, 1997.[1]On February 5, 2004, with only one dissenting vote, the disciplinary committee recommended that the high court re-admit Bankston to the practice of law. There had been concern by the committee that Bankston had not been sufficiently remorseful over the commission of his crimes.[15]He practices law at Bankston and Associates at 8708 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge.[6]
Just like with the mafia, need a criminal mind to help perpetrate criminal acts against the elderly. Sickening.
Thanks for posting, Mr. Windham. My first thought was how any state agency could hire someone with such a checkered past. Then I reflected back on the post and realized it’s a natural fit. Bankston is classless on that video, and he never answers her question of why they let him ignore the restrictions. He may have just as well relayed they were placed upon him for fun. I’m at a loss as to why a state board would back an auctioneer with such a dark history as Buhler. Some piece of the puzzle is missing. Did his father make big contributions to Jindal’s campaign?
You must be wise beyond your years, Mr. Willis!! The “missing piece” you reference is “legendary” auctioneer Marvin Henderson. Henderson, himself a convicted felon entailing mail fraud involving his own auction company, http://www.auctioneer-la.org/Henderson_mail_fraud_Alabama.pdf, invokes fear among LALB members. HE has contributed heavily to Jindal’s campaigns (and many other politicians such as Woody Jenkins). After having read your post, I went in and put together a brief video clip of Marvin openly touting the LALB reinstating Ken’s license on 9/17/10 (seven days after I was Teagued for my adamant opposition to the reinstatement) along with him pleading for the full removal of all restrictions after the Board fined his father, which culminated in Mac’s bond being cancelled (thus effectively shutting Ken down due to his dependence on Mac per the restrictions on his license). Here’s the brief (51-second) video clip: http://youtu.be/k6CHI2uPYqw. Again, very perceptive, Mr. Willis!!
Unreal… Is this board supposed to protect consumers or licensees? Is there not a criminal code that these auctioneers could be charged with and the board members as accessories to such crimes?
It clearly protects auctioneers and by stealing from the elderly, it does so in a manner even lower than an organized crime family protects it’s family patriarchs.
Any candidate for POTUS can use Story’s and Fasola’s videos. Pull the transcript from 36th JDC with key highlighted text of words Story used to win her case, and ANY candidate, D or R, can use it to destroy Jindal. Nobody wants a President who oppresses the elderly.
More proof that Jindal is heartless and only concerned with the politically connected. C. B.’s clock shows 1 year and 60 days. Run clock run!
Just when you think this governor has hit rock bottom something else comes along that should make most decent people sick to their stomach.
Oh, how I wish I had the power or knowledge to bring the whole worthless pieces if trash down and shed a bright light on who they really are.
One day it will catch up to them.
Agreed totally!
Proof yet again that there should be NO appointments made by the governor.
I’ll 2nd that motion any day of the week, quitlyingjindal!