Statements by An Individual Targeted by Stephen Gianelli
Daniel J. Meade
March 24, 2017
To
Whom It May Concern:
I am
a long term friend and confidant of Ms. Kelley Lynch who currently resides in Los Angeles
I would
like to make some comments, statements, and observations about Stephen Gianelli,
a lawyer from Northern California, and his communications about and to Ms. Kelley
Lynch.
First
of all I must say that there is no fiduciary relationship between Ms. Lynch and
myself in regards to this communiqué. My motivation is purely an attempt to
provide some needed commentary about Mr. Gianelli and his reprehensible conduct
towards Ms. Lynch.
Secondly,
I think it is pertinent and germane to say a few things about my back ground. I
have been a practising Buddhist for about fifty years in the Zen and Tibetan
traditions. In this context, I have spent many years in formal practise environments
included approximately two years which were devoted to solitary retreat. I did
my undergraduate studies in Buddhist studies in conjunction with formal
Buddhist academic studies with several well known and respected Buddhist
Masters. In my early twenties I was designated as Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s
personal representative, senior teacher, and spokesman. Rinpoche was the foremost proponent of
Tibetan Buddhism in the west. Subsequently, I have given thousands of
presentations on the Buddhist Path all over North America .
I
believe it is a well known and acknowledged fact that the practise of Buddhism
is based on developing loving kindness and empathy towards oneself and others
and all that entails. Its adherents strive to be ethical, moral and decent
towards all fellow beings on this world.
As I
have been in more or less continuous communication with Ms. Lynch over the
years I am well aware of the difficulties she has experienced with her
relationship, which was primarily a business relationship, with Mr. Leonard
Cohen. I’m sure that situation has been difficult and rather painful for all
parties but particularly so for Kelley and her two sons, Rutger and Ray.
Some
time ago Kelley shared with me email communications that she had received from
Stephen Gianelli who apparently continues to harass her and, at times, those
communications are sent from what appear to be email accounts created in fake
names.
For
some unknown reason, after providing Kelley with a declaration for use in a
matter before Los Angeles Superior Court, Gianelli began sending me very
peculiar and disturbing email communications.
He slandered Kelley horrendously, attacked my character, appeared intent
upon turning me against Kelley, and blatantly argued Leonard Cohen’s legal and
business interests. The obvious question to me is why he would spend the time
formulating these communications? In one of his communications to me (if one
could call that communication in this era of alternative facts) he disparaged
me for stating my opinion about Leonard Cohen based on a phone conversation
that he and I had a number of years ago.
I did indeed have a brief chat with Cohen while visiting Kelley in Los
Angeles. A humorous remark on my part
led to Leonard Cohen hanging up on me.
Cohen followed up on this call by sending Kelley a vicious letter where
he went ballistic on her. He was
obviously jealous and my flippant attitude bothered him. I had been a fan of his music and poetry
since my early teens. I was disturbed
and depressed by how petty and immature his attack on Kelley was. It had nothing whatsoever to do with business
and appeared to be solely related to my visit and the fact that I answered her
phone. I had heard from other sources about
Cohen’s egomania but was shocked to experience it personally. I recounted this incident in my declaration
and was attacked by Stephen Gianelli over my personal views.
It
is my opinion that Stephen Gianelli’s motivation may very well involve a fiduciary
relationship with Mr. Cohen and possibly his present lawyers and/or
representatives of his estate. It begs
the question: “Why else?”
In
my professional experience (money making), which has primarily been that of a General
Contractor in the Building Sector, I have had quite a bit of experience consulting
and dealing with lawyers, solicitors and barristers in Canada, the U.S. and
England. I also have a number of friends who work in the judiciary profession.
In all my experience, I have never seen anything as appalling, depraved and humanly
indecent as Stephen Gianelli’s communications.
It is my understanding that he has spent approximately eight years
harassing Kelley, terrorizing her sons and family members, and is also
harassing her roommate, Paulette Brandt.
I am
not so naïve as to be unaware of the sometimes necessary tactic of been ‘tough’
so to speak with adversaries but Gianelli’s communications reached the lowest
bar of decency that I have ever witnessed.
It is my understanding that there was or is some form of professional
ethical standards in the legal field but Stephen Gianelli has obviously chosen
to ignore those standards. From my
perspective, he is either just a plain old crook of some sort or mentally
disturbed to the point where he should be disbarred or at least severely
reprimanded. Does being a good lawyer
constitute, in his mind, the use of conscious lying and venomous slander as a
day to day professional tool? Gianelli’s
conduct is reminiscent of Joseph McCarthy’s last hearing before the U.S. Congress in 1954
when he was asked “Have you no decency?”
In
my opinion, Stephen Gianelli is guilty of being both a criminal and psychopath
who needs psychiatric help of some sort and should be disbarred for the benefit
of himself and others. I cannot believe
this man can look himself in a mirror and be proud of what he does for a
living. It is a pity on his family and
friends, if he has any. I’d be interested to see how they would deal with the
noxious communications from this very disturbed human being. These communications were clearly intended to
defend Leonard Cohen while attacking Ms. Lynch and those who support and care
for her.
Thank
you for taking the time to read my thoughts on this situation. I understand Gianelli’s harassing
communications are, to some extent, being used to prosecute Kelley for
violating a fraudulent domestic violence order obtained by now deceased singer,
Leonard Cohen. I can attest to the fact
that, throughout the entire time I have known Ms. Lynch, it was never my
understanding that she and Leonard Cohen were in a “dating” relationship. In fact, it was and remains my understanding
that Ms. Lynch was the victim of sexual harassment and other unprofessional conduct
on the part of Leonard Cohen. I
addressed this more specifically in my declaration which I have attached
hereto. Ms. Lynch and I, on the other
hand, were indeed in an intimate relationship over the years. It seems quite peculiar that Leonard Cohen would
go to such extremes to handle what was clearly a business dispute. It may very well be the case that certain
parties are merely impressed by his celebrity status and ability to employ the
services of individuals such as Stephen Gianelli.
I
feel ethically and morally obliged to communicate my observations about Stephen
Gianelli to the public at large. He is a
danger to any society where he lives or does business.
Very
truly yours,
Daniel
J. Meade
Comments
Post a Comment