Scout’s Honor . . . Another Reason to Dislike Lawyers

Scouts and lawyers.

Frank A. Frye III was volunteer chairman for the sales and participation committee of last spring’s 1991 Boy Scout Fair for San Diego County. He’s also a lawyer.

As you may know, Scouts sell tickets to the fair wrapped around chocolate bars.

When Cub Scout Pack 705 of Del Mar was late remitting its ticket sales money, Frye acted like any hard-nosed lawyer dunning a deadbeat.

He sent a scary demand letter to a fellow Scout leader, complete with law office letterhead and threats. To the ticket sales coordinator for Pack 705, Frye wrote:

“DEMAND IS HEREBY MADE, that you remit the sum of $108.00 made payable to ‘Boy Scouts of America,’ to my office or to Boy Scout Headquarters, on or before October 15, 1991.

“I do not understand your delay in forwarding funds to the (Boy Scout) Council. . . . However, I must advise that the Council intends to pursue collection of all amounts due and owing to it through all legal means available.”

(Unknown to Frye, the money had just been paid.)

The ticket sales coordinator for Pack 705 turned over Frye’s stomach-churning letter to Robert D. Frank, the pack’s cubmaster. Frank, too, is a lawyer.

Frank, not surprisingly, found Frye’s letter rather heavy-handed, even though it closed, “In Scouting . . . ‘

Frank fired off his own (tongue-in-cheek) letter to Frye. He said he’s authorized to accept summons if Frye is hellbent to sue:

“That is, Dens 3, 8 and 10 have so authorized me. Den 4’s caucus was short a quorum to decide this issue as Billy and David were grounded because they had not made their beds yesterday.

“Most significantly, Den 5 has sought separate counsel to pursue an action for defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

Frye, unchastened, sees nothing wrong with his demand letter: “For 108 stinking bucks, somebody could have written that check months ago.”

Frank has a different view. Expressed in a P.S. on the bottom of his response to Frye:

“I think I have finally figured out why people hate lawyers.”

Looking Here and There

Around town.

* Money and politics.

Washington-based Campaign magazine, in its October-November issue, profiles little-known La Jolla couple Stephen and Susan Polis Schutz, who made their money in greeting cards.

Their $129,000 in political contributions (all to Democrats) in 1989-90 places them at the top of contributors nationwide to federal campaigns.

And raises questions about enforcement of the $25,000 federal limit on individual contributions.

Title of the profile: “Reclusive Middle-Aged Flower Children Top List of Contributing Households.”

* State Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren paid a quiet visit to Sheriff Jim Roache last week.

For Roache, it was a long-awaited chance to thank Lungren for legislation he sponsored as a congressman on asset seizure for drug dealers.

For Roache’s department, that meant a $6-million boon this year.

* NBC News is in town for the Betty Broderick trial.

* An inside look.

The San Diego Police Department is expanding its Citizens Awareness Academy program to include high school students.

The first 30 students, from Mira Mesa High, start a five-week program tomorrow. For five consecutive Tuesday nights, they’ll learn the hows and whys of the P.D.

* San Diego attorney Phil Connor knows how to tell if you’re a true Southern Californian.

That’s when your kids watch the TV commercials during a Green Bay Packers game and ask, “Daddy, what’s anti-freeze?”

Cutting Through Hot Air

Hot air. Plain talk.

Sign above the blower to dry your hands in the men’s room at Dick’s Last Resort, the new ribs and chicken joint in downtown San Diego:

Yeah, we know everybody hates these damn things, however:

No. 1. Environmentally, you can’t beat ‘em.

No. 2. Helps keep trash off the floor.

No. 3. (Real reason) It’s cheaper.