Exhibit · GIRMA, GMA, and Gallagher Bassett
Twenty days after the May 1 letter, GMA’s General Counsel put GMA’s position in her own words.
What it is
An email from Rusi Patel, General Counsel of the Georgia Municipal Association, received May 21, 2026. It answers a message I sent the day before asking, in eight questions, who represented whom after the May 1 letter arrived addressed to the City Attorney.
Why it matters
It is GMA’s own statement of position, in its General Counsel’s words. It confirms that Mr. Westbury represents GMA and GIRMA, asks that I route everything through him, and says silence is not agreement.
What it shows
“this correspondence confirms that Mr. Westbury represents the Georgia Municipal Association and the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency regarding these matters.” And: “The issues you reference are being handled through the appropriate claims and legal processes.” Which processes, and what they decided about the five accommodation requests, is not stated.
What it does not show
An ADA contact, a grievance procedure, or an answer to any of the eight questions except the one about Mr. Westbury.
What I sent, May 20, 2026 (summary, not a transcript)
An email to Rusi Patel, copied to Mr. Westbury and Mr. Hanson, headed “Counsel / Capacity Clarification Required Before Further Records and Preservation Correspondence.” Eight questions: the current scope of Mr. Westbury’s representation; whether it continued after a grievance was filed about the May 1 letter; whether he also represented the City Attorney, the City, Gallagher Bassett, Mr. Wall, or the broker; why the May 1 cover email was addressed to the City Attorney; why attorneys outside GMA and GIRMA were copied; where future correspondence should go; and who replaces him if he no longer represents GMA or GIRMA. The reply came the next day.
Transcript (verbatim)
Date: May 21, 2026
From: Rusi Patel, General Counsel, Georgia Municipal Association (rpatel@gacities.com)
To: me
Subject: RE: FW: [External] Second request- Counsel / Capacity Clarification Required Before Further Records and Preservation Correspondence
Mr. [redacted]:
We acknowledge receipt of your email and the various prior communications referenced therein.
Your repeated assertions that silence constitutes endorsement, misconduct, or institutional agreement are not accepted. Likewise, unilateral deadlines imposed through email correspondence do not create legal or procedural obligations on GMA, GIRMA, or their representatives.
GMA and GIRMA dispute your characterizations of counsel’s conduct, the underlying claims, and the legal conclusions asserted throughout your correspondence. The fact that GMA or its representatives do not respond to each accusation, assertion, or demand on the timetable you propose does not constitute admission, agreement, ratification, or waiver.
As you are aware, GMA and GIRMA personnel manage substantial ongoing operational, legal, and organizational responsibilities. Your repeated correspondence does not require the immediate suspension of those obligations in order to engage in continuing argumentative exchanges regarding matters already addressed through counsel and claims channels.
The issues you reference are being handled through the appropriate claims and legal processes. You also appear to already understand that Mr. Westbury represents GMA and GIRMA in connection with this matter based on your own correspondence. To the extent additional clarification is necessary, this correspondence confirms that Mr. Westbury represents the Georgia Municipal Association and the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency regarding these matters.
To the extent further communications are necessary, they should be directed through those established channels. Mr. Westbury previously politely requested that communications regarding this matter be coordinated through him. While you are, of course, free to choose otherwise, GMA itself requests that you direct future substantive communications concerning these matters through Mr. Westbury.
Please also understand that repeated mass-distribution correspondence containing accusations of criminal conduct, ethics violations, institutional corruption, or regulatory misconduct does not obligate GMA, GIRMA, or counsel to participate in ongoing point-by-point email debate.
Nothing in this communication waives any rights, defenses, privileges, objections, immunities, or positions available to GMA, GIRMA, their counsel, representatives, or affiliated entities.
Regards,
Rusi Patel
General Counsel
Georgia Municipal Association
Cited in
the May 1 Westbury letter, Rusi C. Patel, James R. Westbury, Jr., the GIRMA, GMA, and Gallagher Bassett record.
Correction history
Published September 5, 2026. No corrections yet.
I have invited GIRMA, GMA, and Gallagher Bassett to identify any inaccuracy on this page. As of September 5, 2026, it has identified none.
Back to the GIRMA, GMA, and Gallagher Bassett record · Gallagher Bassett claim handling · See the Proof