The ‘Oklahoman’ reports that 56 complaints have been filed against former Renton Lomas Eye Care doctor Christopher Phillips. The Oklahoma media have taken some interest in this story because of the doctor’s former marriage to Oklahoma hero Shannon Miller.

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Thu July 17, 2008

Gymnast’s ex-husband is in bankruptcy

Christopher Phillips, Olympics gymnast Shannon Miller’s ex-husband has filed for bankruptcy after closing his eye surgery business.

Dr. Christopher Phillips, 35, was the subject of critical news accounts in Seattle earlier this year because some patients complained they had no notice of the closure and did not know what to do next.

“We’ve driven a hundred miles for an appointment that we thought we had at 3:30. … You can’t get any answers. That’s the bad thing,” one patient said to Seattle TV station KIRO.

The Washington Health Department is investigating 56 complaints against the doctor, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. All the complaints have come in since the closure.

The investigations may result in discipline that could include loss of Phillips’ medical license in Washington, the Health Department spokeswoman said.

Phillips is from Oklahoma. He could not be reached for comment. His bankruptcy attorney, Gloria Nagler, said Tuesday, “I don’t have any comment. Sorry.”

Phillips married Miller in a fairy tale-like wedding in Oklahoma City in 1999. Their divorce became final in Massachusetts seven years later. Miller called the marriage a painful experience.

Phillips filed for bankruptcy July 2 in federal court in Seattle. He listed an address in Renton, a suburb of Seattle. Phillips reported he is unemployed.

He reported he has assets of $962,109 and liabilities of almost $4.7 million. The liabilities include a mortgage and $3.9 million that may be owed to patients.

Phillips bought the eye surgery business in Renton last fall but closed it five months later, according to his bankruptcy records.

Records show Phillips is considering suing the doctor who sold him the clinic. He is considering alleging fraud in the sale. He also is considering suing the media on libel and slander grounds.

See the original article here

An interesting email council received from a citizen–
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I have 2 concerns regarding the Cedar River.

First:

Just downstream of the Maplewood Park there is a hazard warning sign for a hazard long gone. It makes people wonder about any other warning sign. Is it current or out of date?

Please remove this sign.

Second – A real current hazard, The logjam behind the golf course.

There is a warning about this hazard. However, the other day as I was floating this area of the river, I met a couple on a canoe that put in after the warning. They were not at all aware of the logjam.

Currently, there is a portage to the right. For this one must climb over a couple of trees. The real hazard is on the left side of the stream.

While there is an assumed risk floating on any river, the main part of the logjam I believe presents an unnecessary hazard in a very populated area. While I have not done an environmental study of the logjam, my guess is that the major portion could easily be removed without any environmental degradation and at not much financial cost.

Please remove the major portion of this hazard that could trap someone. Thank you.

Have Fun!

HUMAN RESOURCES & RISK MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT

MEMORANDUM

June 20, 2008

TO: All Employees

FROM: Nancy A. Carlson
Human Resources and Risk Management Administrator

SUBJECT: USE OF CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING

On July 1, 2008 a new Washington State Law regarding the use of wireless communication devices will go into effect. Specifically, the law reads, “a person operating a moving motor vehicle while holding a wireless communications device to his or her ear is guilty of a traffic infraction.“

There are some exceptions to the law which include; public safety personnel operating an authorized emergency vehicle, the coroner, and the prosecuting attorney’s office. The law also exempts an individual that is; reporting illegal activity, summoning medical or other emergency help; calling to prevent injury to a person or property, and those who are required to use a hearing aid.

The law does not completely ban the use of wireless communications devises, as it allows the use if the devise can be used in a “hands-free mode.” Hands-free mode has been defined to mean a wireless communications devise with a speaker phone, headset, or earpiece.

City Administrators understand that many of you depend on your cell phones to communicate with your supervisor, colleagues, and customers of the City, and that many of these calls are made while you’re driving from one appointment to the next. Before we all attach a device to our phones to comply with the law, it is important to remember why this law was passed. The legislative intent of the law reads:

“The use of wireless communications devices by motorists has increased in recent years. While wireless communications devices have assisted with quick reporting of road emergencies, their use has also contributed to accidents and other mishaps on Washington state roadways. When motorists hold a wireless communications device in one hand and drive with the other, their chances of becoming involved in a traffic mishap increases. It is the legislature’s intent to phase out the use of hand=held wireless communications devices by motorists while operating a vehicle.

Your safety is the most important issue. Therefore, we would strongly suggest that you pull over to take or make a call. If it is an incoming call that can wait, let the call go to voice mail and return the call when you stop. You are allowed to use your phone while driving only if it has a speaker, or is attached to some other device which makes it hands free. Departments have been authorized to purchase the necessary adaptors to allow you to use your phone, hands free. The Bluetooth device has not been approved.

Thank you for your cooperation and please drive safely.

PLEASE POST THIS NOTICE IN AREAS WHERE EMPLOYEES DO NOT HAVE INDIVIDUAL EMAIL

In Mobile Alabama they are canceling a planned ground-breaking ceremony for the Air Force Tanker finishing center. I am of course glad to hear this, as I am one of the many, many Washingtonians that is confident that our local product was the better one in the Air Force Tanker competition. Still, I can’t help but feel a little sad for the good people of Alabama, who are being whip-sawn in this race just as much as we are here in the Seattle area.

As a Renton councilmember, I can’t help but be uplifted by the latest developments. Even though Boeing moved it’s corporate headquarters to Chicago, the airplane maker’s commercial headquarters home remains right here in our beloved town of Renton. And the tanker airplane is very much a derivative of a commercial product, whether it is on a Boeing 767 platform or an Airbus 330 platform.

So we should celebrate this latest win for our home team, while remembering that there are good people, just like us, in Mobile that are dissappointed.

There are also many Europeans that are dissappointed, and they are also some very nice people; but I still question whether they should ever get the lions share of a 35-billion-dollar US defense contract when our US economy is faltering and good American-made options are available.

Click here for an interesting CNBC blog entry on this topic.