Louis Swartz lawsuit closing the life long learning center
 

Can you believe this guy and a law suit caused the life long learning center to close! This is rediculous. He has a fancy house on a golf course and sues the learning center because he is hearing impaired. My husband is too and this community offers all kinds of privileges that he has now prevented us from enjoying. I have a great idea! MOVE

Why is this in political?

What is the sense of entitlement that would cause a person to sue the LLLC in such a manner? Why can't the guy simply get a better hearing aid?

I love the LLLC and have taken courses there. If they close, we ALL lose.

Who is this guy anyway?? I am so disappointed to hear this.

In the days of old...an angry mob would show up at his house and "correct" his behavior...problem solved.

We're "civilized" now, so EVERYONE suffers while he goes about doing what he does, making people miserable.

There's something to be said about the old ways.

I believe he is completely deaf and was involved in these kinds of activities in his lifetime job. To me it feels like someone throwing their weight around and bringing more harm than good. That is MY opinion.

Cohorts: Plaintiffs are Louis Schwarz, Doris Schwarz, Janice Hickey, Thomas Hickey, Bernie Brown, Elizabeth Holst, Stephen Holst, Joanna Langlais, Francis Langlais, Robert Smart, Richard McElwain, Byron Zimmerman, Shirley Zimmerman, John Wilson, Charles Martin, Randall Walker, Evelyn Walker, Maureen Osgood, Carole Paul, Mary Kay Pickering, Andrew St. John, Karen Russell, Clarence Russell, Richard Woods, Linda Woods, Robert McDevitt, Lynn Stirling, Kathleen McElwain, Herbert Pickering, Barbara Achin, Ronald Achin, Diane St. John, Kenny Hynes, and Mary Wilson. See Third Amended Complaint at 1-2 (Doc. 93).

They should be real proud.

How is this such a surprise to so many?

Of all the issues that are in TV, good or bad or just informative, how did this one sneak under the radar of knowledgeable residents and management? (if it did that is).

How did this major element of TV life style process toward demise with no clamor along the way to closure?

Good question. I was totally and completely surprised by this decision. I think essentially all Villages residents were.

The LLLC is ... uh, make that "was," a net positive to The Villages. While it was not a major factor in our decision to move here, it was certainly a factor and in the "plus" column.

The loss of the LLLC thus has an impact on all of us ... not only just in the amenity sense but, to an extent, financial in terms of loss of desirability and thus market value.

I think both the VHA and POA need to address this issue and quickly. Foremost should be ... what has to happen to get the LLLC back?

There are always those that are such miserable scumbags that they wish everyone else to share in their misery, whether deserved or not. Usually not.

I do not know the details of this case, but I do have a question. How can one manage to get a private institution closed based on their inability to participate, if that institution is not receiving government subsidies?

It's easy to hide behind 124000 people. I do hope there is another side of this story - like compromise can be reached. Be interesting to hear from the complainers what their lawyers told them. These cases have a way of ending with the legal team saying I had no way of knowing that would be the outcome. To the legal team - scumbags.

Make it free...a "club"...I always thought a lot of the "classes" were pretty weak...more a money making opportunity than anything. I think a lot of people would still teach if there was an interest.

And their reaction should include how they BOTH provided no information/status of such litigation that had the potential to affect the lifestyle of the residents.

There just has to be more to the story than just the legal public statements.

Good idea that the VHA or the POA represent the "lifestyle". Let's see which one has the guts to do more than write the monthly newsletter.

No one should be surprised about this. This is the normal outcome of liberal/progressive policies and governance.

Make no mistake, 100,000 white people living a good retirement in an anathema to social justice warriors.

You can be sure this is just the opening salvo to destroying the Villages lifestyle.

The is just another case of " Tyranny by a Minority " . Such actions have become the " rule " during the 8 year reign of mr. Obama and his minions .
This is why the issue / action should be considered political .

We all knew it would be Obama's fault. It's just surprising it took 15 posts to get there.

Just Wondering
 

I'm just wondering how many of these aggrieved victims are of the liberal persuasion. I would say most, if not all. They just can't stand the good life we enjoy here. We should be as miserable as they are. :spoken:

Hey, this is what lawyer's are trained to do! create laws through lobbyists, Sue to keep the flow coming, once get bunch to agree, they get paid whether they win or loose. That's why there called ambience chasers. This what you get when politicians are ex lawyers, get under the table money from lobbyists to create wording that nobody can understand so NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO you can find lawyer that will make you look like saint.

Wow, I thought you were going to blame it on Bush again. :a20:

My guess is that this is a class action lawsuit initiated by lawyers. From what I have read, the college has made accommodations on eight different occasions and all were rejected. The will never settle for the problem, being corrected, they want money.

All of the plaintiffs are represented by the same law firm, Simon, Eisenberg & Baum, LLP

As much as I love the Lifelong Learning College, kudos to The Villages for not caving.

Mr Schwartz's statements in the unmentionable news source sound like they've been written by a lawyer.

Today’s Daily Sun, December 2nd, ran the story of the LLLC closure on the front page. The paper quoted a spokesman as saying the plaintiffs viewed the LLLC as a “…rich target with deep pockets.” This person also said the school tried for several years to offer reasonable accommodations including hearing interpreters and assisted hearing devices, but to no avail.

The article said 18,000 residents were affected in some manner including course cancellations etc. Also impacted were 200 paid instructors and 50 workers including paid staff and unpaid volunteers – all of whom have now lost their jobs. Thus, there is some type of measurable economic impact here. It’s also clear the collective TV lifestyle for all residents has been negatively impacted by the closure of the LLLC, but to what extent?

It got me to wondering …. there are about 50,000 homes in TV. Not sure what the average (i.e. mean) market value is, but an estimate is $250,000. No one knows the negative $$$ impact the class action will have on all of TV’s homes market value over time. However, if one assumes it’s only ¾ of one percent, and it’s probably at least that, that still amounts to about $90 million in lost housing market value alone due to the untimely end of the LLLC.

Thus, it occurs to me that since this lawsuit is apparently what caused the demise of the LLLC, my guess is someone may well investigate the feasibility of a counter class action suit for damages.

With over 120,000 people negatively impacted by this group’s action, I’m guessing many would consider joining such an effort if offered to them. I guess we’ll see what happens in the next few weeks and months??? Among other things, people will be looking to the HOA and POA to take the leadership role in figuring out what the most appropriate next step should be. I personally don’t know what that should be.

The lawsuit also mentions the Resident Lifestyle Clubs. If this holds up, I would think that all of our clubs might be in danger of being disbanded.

Mr. Swartz should be extremely proud of himself . Just more tyranny at the hands of a very small minority .

Well then the angry mob WOULD rise up with torches and pitchforks.

Right? We DO have a limit of what we'll take?

Who knows, Hispanics are invading us and we don't seem to really care about that either. The Villages will be "dead" in a few years, the things we loved about it, taken away, diversified away...why not the whole country too?

We'll be dead, so who cares...right?

I do...it's why I speak out.

Send the illegals and send the anchor babies home or face the destruction of your nation and culture.

I'll post my thoughts here and on the other thread. This is what happens when an institution accepts federal funding as does the Charter School ie you accept funds following federal rules

Secondly the federal laws of ADA say reasonable accommodations. LLC didn't earn enough to pay for the number of people needed to provide sign language at the various locations/courses.

Third it is the modus operandi of The Villages (Developer & Districts) to remain quiet about such legal matters. Recall IRS dispute in the beginning, the bison, the Wellness Center

Fourth don't expect either the VHA or POA to make an attempt to come to the rescue their both just social clubs.

Personal Best Regards:

Trump will put an end to special treatment for handicapped people when the business killing regulations get thrown out.

I sure hope so...I'm sorry you're handicapped...but it doesn't mean we change the whole world for you.

Businesses have had to spend millions to accommodate handicapped who NEVER frequented their business.

Where does it end? Equal doesn't mean special. Women/minorities/handicapped...they should have equal access, but not SPECIAL access. No lowered standards, no quotas, no special building requirements, no translators, nothing "out of the ordinary".

And you live here...why? Because these rich white people made the BEST place you could possibly live.

Black/brown people didn't make the villages. Black/brown people DESTROY places like the villages.

STANDARDS and a 99% white population is WHY the villages is what it is. Bring in black/brown people, lower the standards...and what do you get? Leesburg, Wildwood. We don't want that.

Ship us back to the white nations we came from? Those OTHER successful countries? White countries do MUCH better than black/brown countries.

WE "built the western civilization" you enjoy living in. The blacks/browns are the ones that aren't needed...what have their people done? They've DESTROYED the few former white countries they have taken over.

You NEED us a lot more than we need you...

You REALLY need to spend some time with those you advocate so...you NEED to visit MLK Blvd in a few cities before you judge US, before you call US racist and bigoted. You haven't SEEN racism until you go into a black/brown inner city. You want to be appalled, see what they think of YOU. They have NO respect or gratitude. Most blacks/browns would be homeless and starving if it wasn't for white peoples generosity. And they hate us. The entire continent of Africa is on perpetual welfare. 3/4 of the world population is black/brown/asian and POOR. They're only alive because we feed them. They reproduce like rabbits, that's why there are so many of then.

I sure hope the KKK is gaining in popularity...they've been TRYING to warn you, they've been TRYING to STOP the brown invasion. They've been fighting what has been destroying this country...diversity. We peaked in the 50s...the "civil rights" of the 60s began a long slow destruction...nationally and culturally. It's almost too late to stop.

Yes...because that's "us". It's called cohesion and common likes and interests keep people together.

YOU want to bring in...dragging pants, sh!tty rap "music", loud obnoxious behavior, stupid behavior, a lack of morals and norms, people who smell funny, act funny, talk funny... People we have NO common bond with. Why? Why would you WANT to live among people you share NOTHING with? I wouldn't move into the inner city because there's nothing I want/need there. So WHY would you want to move here? Because WE did the hard work to EARN our place here? If YOU want a "diversified", a black/brown paradise to live in...make your own...don't move here and destroy ours.

If demanding standards is being a nazi...then guilty as charged. I want the villages to stay a friendly, safe, beautiful, WHITE place.

Yes, that is why a lot of us moved here. Why did you move here if you don't like it? TO CHANGE IT? Because that is exactly why Yankees move South. They like it down South until they move here and then attempt to change it to reflect their nasty Northern, crime ridden lifestyle. Just so they can complain again.

I am not going to attempt to explain to you why I enjoy living in a predominantly white community. It really has nothing to do with race, but with security or race. Seniors are generally more law abiding than the young that like to act out and rebel against authority. That's why we have a seniors' community. We have rules that everyone agrees to when they move here. Remember the covenants and restrictions that you signed when you purchased? Or, do you even live here? DO NOT come here expecting us to change or conform to your idea of what YOU want it to be. There is plenty of room in America for people like you to live where you don't have to be subjected to our lifestyle. It is your prerogative (even though wrong) to believe that because the community is mostly white that we are racially biased. You still have free thought. All you are doing by accusing us, is making yourself less acceptable to the community. Most of us moved away from people like you. But, you insist on following us around. For some reason, it gives you pleasure to make those around you as miserable as you.

I am still a believer of the old saying of: LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT. It's up to you, but if you want my opinion free of charge, you would be a lot happier if you accepted our community for what it is, instead of what you want it to be. In case you don't know it, I am not a believer or advocate of PC.

I feel sorry for you. It's a good thing that you don't live here in The Villages where you have to endure such happiness.

Because white people create NICE places to live. That's why they follow us around..."their places" begin to suck as the minorities they WELCOME begin to move in.

The RATIONAL thing to do is to take back our culture and our country. Otherwise, we lose it, we become Mexico II...and THEN you'll see what discrimination is REALLY all about. Not this perceived BS that the minorities claim we do. Go to the inner city, go to the Mexican part of town to see what discrimination is REALLY.

You have no clue how low they regard white people, we're there to serve them for past discrepancies.

Political
 

Well, read some of the posts. It's impossible to have a civil discussion on this forum. Everything is political to some. Those that want to do what is right for the handicap are liberals that just are getting in the way of my lifestyle. That seems to be what I'm hearing here. Like a conservative isn't in favor of accommodation for the hearing impaired.

Just wait until the inmates take over this aslysum. This is just the beginning---wait until the music stops because someone files a lawsuit over not being able to hear the music.

Why don't they just get a F***ing hearing aid? Why do they ruin everything for everyone else just because they enjoy being miserable?

Yes, a hearing aid. My wife and I both wear them and I also read lips, self taught by turning the sound off on the TV. Try it instead of making everyone else do without.

Do NOT try to use someone's religion of charity against them. That is a poor excuse for a human being. People like you are scum, leaches that try to use people to their own advantage.

If a person has a handicap, there are more than enough people in the world kind enough that will try to provide assistance. To take advantage of one's disability for personal gain is despicable. Nasty people like that should not even be given an audience.

This is nothing more than the left attempting to destroy a community that was built by a conservative, and that has a majority of conservatives residing in it. The left feels that if one person can not participate, then no one should be able to.

Do you read what you write? You sound like a child, stomping her feet and saying "you don't love me. You hate me."

Where do you see anyone saying that they would not help someone that needs assistance? This is not about that at all. This is about a serial complainer that enjoys suing anything establishment, because that person is miserable and wishes everyone else to be miserable. Causing an institution to be shut down is not going to garner sympathy.

If one wishes assistance, they should not DEMAND it.

I too am deeply saddened by the closing of the LLLC. It outrages me that the actions of a minority can have such a impact on the huge majority. I would gladly participate in any legal actions to try to restore this wonderful amenity. Likewise, I find it outrageous that some comments have made this a political issue and others have resorted to name calling. This accomplishes nothing. Not only should the litigants be ashamed of themselves for even initiating this lawsuit (not to mention the appalling outcome) , but also those who posted some of the aforementioned comments. Positive action is needed, not name calling and political opinions --- can't the Morse family do something?

Of course it's POLITICAL. It's liberals attempting to corrupt anything good in life, in order to make everyone equally miserable.

So you think everyone involved in this suit is a bad ol' liberal. Of course, you are wrong.

Did I say "bad ol' liberal?"

I do not think these 34 deaf residents wanted to close the lifelong learning college. Unfortunately the cost to provide hearing impaired services is beyond the scope of volunteer activities. Hopefully this will not extend to 2000 clubs and free rec center activities. We all lose. I am very sad about this.