Philbin’s Bookkeeper, Sister and Trustees Ordered to Show Up and Testify
Last week, the Discovery Master mandated by the Middlesex Superior Court judge ordered the Everett Leader Herald’s office manager, Mary Schovanec, Tara Philbin, CEO of Philbin Insurance Group, and the Keepers of the Records for the Philbin Realty Trust, LLC and Philbin-Middlesex Realty Trust to respond and comply with the deposition subpoenas.
According to the March 16, 2023, filing in Middlesex Superior Court, on Sept. 6, 2022, subpoenas were served on Mary Schovanec seeking her testimony and certain documents. On Sept. 16, her counsel – paid for by Everett Leader Herald owner Matthew Philbin – in a letter to the mayor’s attorney objected to appearing for a deposition and producing any documents.
Tara Philbin was served a subpoena on Sept. 6, 2022, to appear for a deposition and to provide documents. Her attorney replied on Sept. 13 with the same objections but was denied. Philbin is the daughter of Philbin Insurance owner Andrew Philbin, Sr, a defendant in the defamation lawsuit, along with Everett Leader Herald publisher and corrupt reporter Joshua Resnek, owner Matthew Philbin, and Everett City Clerk Sergio Cornelio. Philbin Insurance at one time received lucrative deals with the City.
The mayor has subpoenaed the Trustees of two Philbin real estate trusts that own property in Everett to show up and testify, and to bring their documents. Matthew Philbin hired a lawyer on their behalf to say they would not show up and would not produce evidence.
With respect to the trustees of Philbin Real Estate Trust and Philbin-Middlesex Realty Trust, it’s anyone’s guess as to who would represent the two real estate trusts: the father, Andrew Philbin, Sr., or the brothers, Andrew Philbin, Jr., who is part owner of the newspaper’s Church St. office and apartment building with brother, Matthew Philbin, and possible business partners in various businesses throughout Everett, including rooming houses on Chelsea Street, a bar on Chelsea Street and apartments on Ferry Street, which were bones of contention between the Philbins and the mayor for many years.
Some may call it vintage stonewalling, as the Philbins appear to be running scared following Resnek’s admission to massive fraud during his four depositions. In spite of opposing the motions, they will all have to testify, with three of the four providing documents. The bookkeeper, who has stated in her lawyer’s opposition that she is the primary caregiver to her elderly husband and disabled adult son, will be allowed to testify via Zoom at the newspaper office. Tara Philbin will have to appear with documentation of any and all communications regarding bids, potential bids for insurance contracts with the City of Everett, or agency, department or division since Jan. 1, 2014. The Keeper of the Records for the two realty trusts – whether that is one or all three Philbins – will appear (it’s anyone’s guess).
The Court-appointed Discovery Master has now ordered them to show up and testify. They opposed motions to compel them to do so. The ruling: They all have to testify. And three of the four (the bookkeeper says she does not have any documents of her own) have to bring the documents.
File under: A bad day for the Philbin-Resnek Stonewall Attempt.