Most Scandalous Trials of the Century


692
Transcription
25

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
694
1 M O R N I N G S E S S I O N
2
3 (The following takes place in the absence of the
4 jury.)
5 THE COURT: Good morning.
6 MR. TRABULUS: Good morning.
7 THE CLERK: Jury entering.
8 (Whereupon, the jury at this time entered the
9 courtroom.)
10 THE COURT: Good morning, members of the jury.
11 Please be seated.
12 Permit me to compliment you on getting here ahead
13 of time. Now, that's what I call responsibility and
14 efficiency.
15 Thanks very much.
16 You may proceed, Mr. White.
17 MS. SCOTT: The government calls Dr. Bradley
18 Fischman.
19 THE CLERK: Please raise your right hand.
20
21 B R A D L E Y F I S C H M A N,
22 called as a witness, having been first
23 duly sworn, was examined and testified
24 as follows:
25

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
695
1 THE CLERK: Please state your name and spell your
2 last name slowly for the record.
3 THE WITNESS: Bradley Fischman.
4 F I S C H M A N.
5
6 DIRECT EXAMINATION
7 BY MS. SCOTT:
8 Q Good morning, Dr. Fischman. Can you tell us what you
9 do for a living?
10 A Dentist.
11 Q Where do you practice?
12 A Great Neck, New York.
13 Q How long have you been a dentist?
14 A 27 years.
15 Q Do you know Bruce Gordon?
16 A Yes.
17 Q Can you see him in the courtroom today?
18 A Yes.
19 Q Please state who he is by indicating what he is
20 wearing and where he is sitting?
21 MR. TRABULUS: Identification conceded, your
22 Honor.
23 THE COURT: Very well.
24 Q How do you know Bruce Gordon?
25 A He was a patient.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
696
Fischman-direct/Scott


1 Q I am showing you Government's Exhibit 622, which
2 consists of two checks.
3 THE COURT: Is that for identification?
4 MS. SCOTT: That's for identification.
5 Q Do you recognize those?
6 A No. They are made out to me. I never handle the
7 checks in my office.
8 Q Does it appear that they are handled by the person
9 who regularly does handle the checks?
10 A Yes, they have our stamp on the back, made out to us
11 and they are appropriate for the work done.
12 Q What are those amounts?
13 A $1,500 and $2,500.
14 MS. SCOTT: I offer Government's Exhibit 622,
15 your Honor.
16 THE COURT: Any objection?
17 MR. TRABULUS: No objection.
18 THE COURT: Government's Exhibit 622 in
19 evidence.
20 (Government's Exhibit 622 received in evidence.)
21 Q What are the dates indicated on those two checks?
22 A 4/14/92 and 12/10/92.
23 Q What is the name of the person or entity that made
24 out the checks to you?
25 A Who's Who Worldwide Registry, Inc.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
697
Fischman-direct/Scott


1 Q And that's on both checks?
2 A Both checks.
3 MS. SCOTT: Thank you. No further questions.
4 THE COURT: Anything?
5 MR. TRABULUS: Very briefly.
6
7 CROSS-EXAMINATION
8 BY MR. TRABULUS:
9 Q Good morning, Dr. Fischman.
10 You were paid for performing dental services on
11 Mr. Gordon; is that correct?
12 A Yes.
13 Q And you believe those are the two checks used to pay
14 that; is that correct?
15 A Yes.
16 Q As you sit here today, do you know whether or not the
17 corporation itself took a tax deduction for that?
18 A I have no knowledge.
19 Q Or do you know whether or not it is simply regarded
20 as a loan to Mr. Gordon?
21 A No knowledge.
22 MR. TRABULUS: Thank you.
23 MS. SCOTT: Nothing further.
24 THE COURT: You may step down, Doctor.
25 Please call your next witness.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
698
Fischman-cross/Trabulus


1 (Whereupon, at this time the witness left the
2 witness stand.)
3 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, the government calls
4 Joyce Grossman.
5 THE COURT: Do you want to raise your right
6 hand.
7
8 J O Y C E G R O S S M A N,
9 called as a witness, having been first
10 duly sworn, was examined and testified
11 as follows:
12
13 THE COURT: Please be seated.
14 State your full name and spell your last name.
15 THE WITNESS: Joyce Grossman, G R O S S M A N.
16 THE COURT: You are the only witness I ever
17 permitted to wear a hat, Ms. Grossman in a court building,
18 do you know that?
19 THE WITNESS: Really?
20 THE COURT: You have made history.
21 I would not ask you to remove it. If you were a
22 man I would certainly do that. And it is not because of
23 any gender bias at all.
24 THE WITNESS: Thank you.
25 THE COURT: You may proceed.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
699
1 MR. WHITE: Thank you, your Honor.
2
3 DIRECT EXAMINATION
4 BY MR. WHITE:
5 Q Ms. Grossman, can you tell us how old you are?
6 A 71.
7 Q Tell us where you live?
8 A In California, Los Angeles.
9 Q How long have you lived there?
10 A About 46 years.
11 Q Do you work?
12 A Yes.
13 Q What do you do?
14 A I am an interior decorator.
15 Q And does your interior decorating business have a
16 name?
17 A It is my name, Joyce Grossman interiors.
18 THE COURT: You have to pull the microphone a
19 little closer and keep your voice up, Mr. Grossman.
20 THE WITNESS: Yes, I will.
21 Q Are you married?
22 A Yes, I am.
23 Q Is your husband Dr. Grossman who testified here
24 yesterday?
25 A Yes, he is.



HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
700
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Q Now, do you know a man named Bruce Gordon?
2 A Yes, I do.
3 Q How do you know him?
4 A He is my brother.
5 Q Now, are you testifying here today pursuant to a
6 court order granting you immunity?
7 A Yes, I am.
8 Q Tell us your understanding of that court order, and
9 what it means?
10 A That anything I say today will not be held against
11 me.
12 Q Are you familiar with a company known as Who's Who
13 Worldwide Registry?
14 A Yes, I am.
15 Q Did you and your husband invest in that company?
16 A Yes, we did.
17 Q Now, prior to the time that you invested, did you or
18 your husband have any discussions regarding your
19 investments with Mr. Gordon?
20 A Yes, we did.
21 Q And who handled that, those discussions with
22 Mr. Gordon?
23 A Primarily my husband.
24 Q How much did you and your husband invest in the
25 company?

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
701
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 A $125,000.
2 Q Can you tell us approximately when you made that
3 investment?
4 A In the summertime of 1990.
5 Q Can you tell us in general terms how that investment
6 was structured?
7 A Well, the funds were to come from our family trust
8 and my husband's retirement plan.
9 Q And the $125,000, was that to be repaid to you?
10 A Yes.
11 Q Were you to have any ownership interest in the
12 company?
13 A 25 percent.
14 Q Who owned the remaining 75 percent?
15 A Bruce Gordon.
16 Q Now, from the time you invested right up until today,
17 has your percentage ownership of the business ever been

18 greater than 25 percent?
19 A No, it hasn't.
20 Q And when you invested, what was your understanding of
21 what role you and your husband were to have in the
22 management or financial affairs of the company?
23 A No involvement, except as a silent partner.
24 Q Now, were you ever consulted in advance regarding
25 business decisions of the company?

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
702
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 A No, I was not.
2 Q Mrs. Grossman, let me show you
3 Government's Exhibit 582 for Identification; if you can
4 look that over.
5 (Handed to the witness.)
6 Q Now, do you see a signature on that document?
7 A Yes, I do.
8 Q And does that appear to be your signature?
9 A Yes, it is.
10 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, may I just have one
11 moment to speak with Mr. Trabulus?
1 2 THE COURT: Sure.
13 (Mr. White confers with Mr. Trabulus.)
14 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, the government would
15 offer Exhibit 582 as a business record of Who's Who
16 Worldwide.
17 MR. TRABULUS: No objection.
18 THE COURT: Government's Exhibit 582 in
19 evidence.
20 (Government's Exhibit 582 received in evidence.)
21 MR. JENKS: Mr. White, it is offered only against
22 Mr. Gordon?
23 MR. WHITE: Correct.
24 MR. JENKS: And Mr. Reffsin.
25 MR. WALLENSTEIN: I don't think it is offered

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
703
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 against Mr. Reffsin.
2 THE COURT: Who is it offered against,
3 Mr. White?
4 MR. TRABULUS: Your Honor, I would offer it in
5 favor of Mr. Gordon.
6 MR. WHITE: Mr. Gordon.
7 THE COURT: Okay.
8 Q Mrs. Grossman, let me show you Exhibit 582-A. Is
9 that simply an enlargement of 582?
10 A Yes.
11 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, the government offers
12 582-A.
13 THE COURT: Any objection?
14 MR. TRABULUS: No objection.
15 THE COURT: Government's Exhibit 582-A in
16 evidence.
17 (Government's Exhibit 582-A received in
18 evidence.)
19 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, do you recall specifically ever
20 signing that letter, Exhibit 582?
21 A No, I don't.
22 THE COURT: 582 is a letter?
23 MR. WHITE: Yes.
24 THE COURT: What date?
25 MR. WHITE: It is dated January 10th, 1990.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
704
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, did you prepare that letter?
2 A No, I did not.
3 Q Was it typical that you or your husband would be sent
4 Who's Who Worldwide documents for your signature?

5 A Yes. But I don't recall anything as early as this.
6 Q Now, if you could read along on the copy in front of
7 you, while I read the first paragraph aloud.
8 It is dated January 10th, 1990. The addressee is
9 Bruce Gordon, 99 Seaview Boulevard, Port Washington, New
10 York, 11050.
11 Dear Bruce:
12 We have now created a new corporation in New York
13 State known as Who's Who Worldwide Registry, Inc., parens,
14 called the Corporation, close parens. I have been issued
15 and am holding 75 percent of the shares of the
16 Corporation.
17 Do you see that, Mrs. Grossman?
18 A Yes, I do.
19 Q Now, did you or your husband have anything to do with
20 the incorporation of Who's Who Worldwide in New York
21 State?
22 A No, we did not.
23 Q Did you ever personally own 75 percent of the shares
24 of the corporation?
25 A No, I did not.



HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
705
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Q Did you or your husband or any of your family
2 entities ever own 75 percent of the shares of the company?
3 A No, we did not.
4 Q Now, if you could follow along while I read the third
5 paragraph.
6 As majority shareholder, and in view of my great
7 geographic distance from the corporation's headquarters in
8 New York, I grant you full authority to operate and manage
9 the corporation's affairs, and to unilaterally make all
10 relevant business decisions. This grant of authority
11 includes the right to vote my shares as you see fit. In
12 addition, if you should find it desirable in advancing the
13 corporation's interests, I authorize you to state to third
14 parties that you are the owner of my shares in the
15 corporation.
16 Affectionately, Joyce Grossman.
17 Do you see that, Mrs. Grossman?
18 A Yes, I do.
19 Q To your knowledge, were you ever the majority
20 shareholder?
21 A No, I was not.
22 Q And did you ever authorize your brother, Mr. Gordon,
23 to state to third parties that he was the owner of your
24 shares?
25 A No, I did not.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
706
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Q Did you ever grant voting control of the shares that
2 you and your husband, and your family trust owned to
3 Mr. Gordon?
4 A No, I did not.
5 Q And the letters dated January 10th, 1990, to the best
6 of your recollection, have you or your husband invested in
7 the company in January of 1990?
8 A No. It wasn't until the summer of that year.
9 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, let me show you Exhibits 585 and
10 586, which are already in evidence.
11 (Handed to the witness.)
12 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, those are Who's Who Worldwide
13 stock certificates; is that correct?
14 A Yes.
15 Q And if you look at Exhibit 585, it indicates that on
16 January 23rd, 1990 these certificates -- this certificate
17 was issued to you; is that correct?
18 A That's what it says.
19 Q Were those issued to you in January of 1990?
20 A No, they were not.
21 Q Did you ever own 75 percent of the company?
22 A No, I did not.
23 Q When was the first time that you saw these stock
24 certificates?
25 A The first time I remember, I believe it was in your

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
707
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 office.
2 Q And do you remember approximately what year that was?
3 A Last year.
4 Q 1997?
5 A Yes.
6 Q Mrs. Grossman, let me draw your attention to December
7 of 1992. Did you or your husband receive any compensation
8 from Who's Who Worldwide around that time?
9 A Yes, we did.
10 Q Tell us what you received?
11 A Two checks from Who's Who, amounting to $400,000,
12 less taxes.
13 Q And tell us what your understanding was of what that
14 payment was for.
15 MR. TRABULUS: Objection, your Honor,
16 understanding.
17 THE COURT: What does understanding mean? Was
18 she told what the payment was for? Did the checks have on
19 it, or the letter accompanying it have any information?
20 MR. WHITE: I will ask her.
21 Q Did you have any discussions with Mr. Gordon
22 regarding what that payment was for?
23 A No, I did not.
24 Q Had you previously performed any work for Mr. Gordon
25 for Who's Who Worldwide?

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
708
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 A Yes, I did.
2 Q Tell us what work you had performed?
3 A Decorating services.
4 Q What had you decorated?
5 A His office in Lake Success, and later on his
6 condominium, and after that the penthouse in Manhattan.
7 Q Now, did you ever have any discussions with
8 Mr. Gordon regarding his compensation in Who's Who
9 Worldwide?
10 A Not any discussion. I didn't want to make any money
11 off my brother. I told him that the first project, which
12 was at Lake Success, that I did alone, with my husband
13 helping me somewhat, that I wouldn't charge him anything.
14 He would pay cost price for everything. And that's
15 exactly what happened.
16 In fact, I arranged for him to pay the sources
17 directly.
18 MR. JENKS: Judge, I am going to object as the
19 response not being responsive to the question.
20 THE COURT: Let me hear the question,
21 Mr. Reporter.
22 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, I agree it is not
23 responsive. I believe the witness misunderstood the
24 question.
25 THE COURT: Strike out the answer as not being

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
709
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 responsive.
2 Q Ms. Grossman, we will focus on the decorating in a
3 moment. Let me ask you about another topic.
4 Did you have any discussions with your brother
5 regarding what compensation he was receiving from Who's
6 Who Worldwide?
7 A Absolutely not.
8 Q Did you ever discuss with anyone at Who's Who
9 Worldwide Mr. Gordon's compensation?
10 A No, I did not.
11 Q Did you ever discuss any written compensation
12 agreement with any Who's Who employee?
13 A No.
14 Q Did you ever verify for any employee that there was a
15 written agreement?
16 A No.
17 Q Compensation agreement, no?
18 A No.
19 Q Now, let me direct your attention to the summer of
20 1993.
21 Is it correct that Mr. Gordon's son passed away
22 at that time?
23 A Yes, it is.
24 Q Did you give or loan Mr. Gordon any money in
25 connection with his son's funeral expenses?

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
710
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 A No, I did not.
2 Q Let me show you Government's Exhibit 425, and its
3 attachments, which are already in evidence.
4 (Handed to the witness.)
5 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, that is one of the
6 documents which was previously passed out to the jurors.
7 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, if you can turn to the second
8 page of that document, which is 425-A. And that's a
9 pro missory note; is that correct?
10 A That's what it looks like.
11 Q It is dated July 25th, 1993; is that right?
12 A Yes.
13 Q The amount of the loan reflected is $15,000?
14 A Yes.
15 Q Did you ever make the loan to Mr. Gordon that is
16 reflected on this note?
17 A No, I did not.
18 Q Now, aside from when you met with your own attorney
19 or met with the government in connection with this case,
20 have you ever seen that document before?
21 A No.
22 Q You can put that away now.
23 Let me again focus your attention on late 1992.
24 Did you have any discussions at that time with
25 Mr. Gordon regarding his purchasing a home?

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
711
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 A Yes.
2 Q Tell us what your discussions were?
3 A He told me that he was looking for a condominium to
4 purchase, and asked if I would be interested in helping
5 him decorate it.
6 Q Did you have any role in decorating a condominium?
7 A Yes, I did.
8 Q Is that the one at Hummingbird Road in Manhasset?
9 A Yes, it is.
10 Q Can you tell us what work you performed?
11 A We did the floor plans, color selection, furniture
12 selection, as well as household items, as well as dishes,
13 linens, etcetera.
14 Q Can you tell us how it was that you were paid?
15 A I invoiced him at the manufacturer's cost, plus ten
16 percent.
17 Q What was the ten percent for?
18 A For my partner's salary, and our business expenses
19 pursuant to the project.
20 Q And the actual suppliers of the furniture and other
21 merchandise, who actually paid them?
22 A We did.
23 Q So, you were paid by Who's Who Worldwide and you paid
24 them?
2 5 A That's correct.

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
712
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, let me show you Exhibits 600
2 through 609 for Identification.
3 (Handed to the witness.)
4 Q Can you tell us what those are?
5 A They are progress payments.
6 Q To Joyce Grossman Interiors?
7 A Yes.
8 Q Was that on your work on the Hummingbird condominium?
9 A Yes.
10 MR. WHITE: The government offers 600 through
11 609.
12 MR. TRABULUS: May I have a brief voir dire, your
13 Honor?
14 THE COURT: Yes.
15 MR. TRABULUS: Thank you.
16
17 VOIR DIRE EXAMINATION
18 BY MR. TRABULUS:
19 Q Mrs. Grossman, I believe you were asked a question by
20 Mr. White as to whether or not you were paid, your company
21 was paid by Who's Who Worldwide?
22 A That's correct.

23 Q Is that correct?
24 Now, these checks which were just shown to you
25 and which are in front of you, were not checks from Who's

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
713
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Who Worldwide, are they?
2 A Publishing Ventures.
3 Q And these are the checks by which you were paid; is
4 that correct?
5 A Yes.
6 MR. TRABULUS: Thank you, your Honor. No
7 objection.
8 THE COURT: Government's Exhibit 600 through 609,
9 is it?
10 MR. WHITE: Yes, your Honor.
11 THE COURT: In evidence.
12 (Government's Exhibits 600 through 609 received
13 in evidence.)
14
15 DIRECT EXAMINATION (cont'd)
16 BY MR. WHITE:
17 Q New, Mrs. Grossman, from reviewing those checks, can
18 you give us an approximate figure how much you were paid
19 on the decorating services at the condominium?
20 A My fee or the merchandise?
21 Q I am sorry, the total of those checks.
22 A It is about 200,000.
23 Q Mrs. Grossman, let me show you Exhibit 610, which is
24 already in evidence.
25 (Handed to the witness.)

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
714
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 Q Now, Mrs. Grossman, have you ever seen that document
2 before?
3 A No, I haven't.
4 Q Now, if you can turn in there to the page that
5 begins, list of equity security holders, which is the
6 lower right-hand corner of the enlargement, which is
7 610-B.
8 Now, if you look on that page, it indicates that
9 you are the 75 percent shareholder of Who's Who Worldwide
10 Registry and that your husband is a 25 percent
11 shareholder.
12 Is that information accurate?
13 A No, it's not.
14 Q If you can turn to that page, which is the upper
15 right-hand corner of Exhibit 610-B.
16 Again, it indicates there that you are the 75
17 percent shareholder and your husband is a 25 percent
18 shareholder; is that accurate?
19 A No, it's not.
20 Q Now, did you ever have a discussion with Mr. Gordon
21 regarding his statements about your ownership interest in
22 the company?
23 A Only at the very beginning, when he suggested that
24 for our investment he would receive 15 percent interest.
25 And I protested and said that's ridiculous. We weren't

HARRY RAPAPORT, CSR, CP, CM OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
715
J. Grossman-direct/White


1 going to be doing anything. I didn't want anything. And
2 he said, no, you would have 25 percent.
3 Q Now, did there come a time that Mister -- you learned
4 that Mr. Gordon said that you owned more than 25 percent?

5 A Only when the law cases, the legal cases involved.
6 And not before that.
7 Q And after you learned that did you have a discussion
8 with Mr. Gordon about what he had said?
9 A Yes.
10 Q Tell us when this took place approximately?
11 A Last year.
12 Q 1997?
13 A Yes.
14 Q And where was this conversation? Where did this
15 conversation take place?
16 A In his present home.
17 Q Tell us what was said?
18 A I asked him how in good conscience he could say I
19 owned 75 percent of his company?
20 And he answered, well, don't you?
21 And I said, what are you saying?
22 And he said, I have bad advice.
23 MR. WHITE: Your Honor, I have no further
24 questions.
TWO sons of Bruce Gordon committed suicide, years apart.
How utterly sociopathic to ask your sister for many thousands of dollars to bury your own son knowing in advance that the money was for other things? No, he didn't even pay for his son's funeral.

For a secretive and decptive human who's shown here stealing his 70-year old sister's entire retirement account,
is there any clear and rational mind that believes Gordon entrusted his employees?
Is there any rational mind that believes Gordon did not decieve his employees?

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT ONLY
Full version of Jan 21st transcript here
With more than 12,000 pages of transcript, many pieces are split into smaller pages,





This site is concerned with The Mishegas of Who's Who WorldwidE, and the offensive stench of corruption in high placesin one of the Most Scandalous Trials of the Century and the concomitant news media blackout regarding this incredible story.

Sixteen weeks of oft-explosive testimony, yet not a word in any of 1200 news archives. This alone supports the claim that this was a Most Embarassing Trial; in fact, one of the most embarassing trials.

Show your support for justice, for exoneration of the innocent, and for that all-important government accountability, by urgently contacting your Senator, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Feeling bad is but a fraction of your action.



The Sad Story of Who's Who Worldwide
How Thomas FX Dunn displayed himself to be the Dumbest Lawyer In The Nation