According to an Order sustaining the Oklahoma Public Employees Association’s Motion for Summary Judgment issued in the district court, the OPEA has prevailed in its action against the Oklahoma Correction Professionals and three of OCP’s founding members.
“OPEA is pleased with the Order,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “We entered into this action to protect the Association and our members’ property. These individuals broke the trust OPEA puts in its staff and leadership.”
On October 13, 2010, the Honorable Judge Ring entered summary judgment in favor of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association againstDean Balmer, Glenn Coleman, William Weldon and the Oklahoma Correction Professionals Association. Balmer is a former staff member and Coleman and Weldon are former board members of OPEA.
The points that were sustained in the summary judgment include:
Balmer breached both his Separation Agreement and breached his fiduciary duty of loyalty to OPEA;
All defendants unlawfully infringed OPEA’s copyrights;
All defendants interfered with the existing and prospective business relationships with OPEA and its membership; and
Defendants engaged in unfair competition and violated the Oklahoma Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
A hearing will be held at a later date to determine the damages to be awarded to OPEA against the defendants. OPEA has asked for an amount in excess of $10,000 from each defendant and the organization, in addition to legal fees.
“Corrections employees should understand this is not about the members of OCP, but about the leadership,” concluded Zearley.
