UTD and AFT File Suit Against Tornillos and Others
for Misappropriation of Union Funds

 MIAMI — The United Teachers of Dade (UTD) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) today filed suit on behalf of the members of UTD against former local president Pat Tornillo, his wife Donna, and several other officers, individuals, and entities who misappropriated or negligently permitted the misappropriation of millions of dollars in local union funds and otherwise harmed the UTD.

The lawsuit, filed in Florida state court, seeks full restitution of the more than $3.3 million taken by the Tornillos and former UTD president Murray Sissleman and his wife.  Also named in the lawsuit, for negligently failing to uncover and report the scheme, were former UTD accountants Grant Thornton and Cummings Grayson.

"From the time we first learned of the wrongdoing by the former UTD officers and others, it has been our primary goal to recover as much money as possible that was taken from UTD members," said Edward J. McElroy, secretary-treasurer of the AFT.  "After discussions with several defendants, we have determined that this lawsuit is the appropriate action to protect the interests of the members."

In a plea agreement reached with federal prosecutors last August, Tornillo admitted he had defrauded the local and the IRS and agreed to repay $650,000 to the union and serve a two-year jail term.  The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 24.  The filing of today’s civil action by the UTD and AFT is the result of an extensive forensic examination, which revealed that Tornillo and Sissleman misappropriated substantially more than the amount Tornillo agreed to pay back to the union under the terms of the plea bargain.

The misappropriation scheme described in the lawsuit includes misuse of UTD treasury funds and corporate credit cards for personal benefit, payment of personal expenses with UTD funds on personal credit cards, diversion of funds from outside educational institutions that provided continuing education programs to UTD members, hiring of individuals on the UTD payroll to provide personal services to the Tornillos, and failure of UTD’s outside accountants to uncover the wrongdoing and report it to appropriate officials.

"Today’s action is another step in our efforts to restore the integrity and strength of UTD.  The members deserve no less," said Mark Richard, the UTD administrator.

Details on the lawsuit and forensic audit are posted on the UTD Web site at www.utofd.com/Forensic_Examination_Report.htm.

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.