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Junior Gym
www.juniorgymla.com
2218 Cotner Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90064
[protected]
My husband, Brad Sims, worked at JUNIOR GYM for nearly 30 years, as a children's coach & gymnastic instructor.
Starting in 1978 for previous owner Peter Braun, Brad developed the popular "Mommy & Me" program, and continued to work as an instructor for Dermot Kiernan when Junior Gym changed ownership in 1983. 2005 was Brad's last year teaching at Junior Gym; he died of cancer in January 07 at the age of 53.
When I went to Junior Gym 6 weeks after Brad's death to pick up his personal belongings, I was told he had no personal property, no locker, no desk drawer, no mementos, no paperwork. After 22 years working in the same building, I found this hard to believe. I had also expected to find the paperwork pertaining to his employment and investments with Junior Gym as it was my understanding that these documents were kept there.
What I did find was a very nervous employer who acted as if he were wishing I'd dissapear like a puff of smoke, and who literally ran out after making an excuse, leaving me sitting there with the equally nervous secretary.
Since my husband's death, I have repeatedly asked Dermot Kiernan for information regarding Brad's pension/investment plan at Junior Gym. My requests have been ignored and my phone calls are not returned.
Two weeks ago I sent Mr. Kiernan a certified letter, again requesting information as to Brad's position and pension investments at Junior Gym. Again, no response. The letter requires a signature and so far remains undelivered and unaccepted.
In the last 2 months of my husband's life I was suddenly the recipient of repeated "drop by" visits and phone calls from Mr. Kiernan's mother (Kathleen) and sister, both of whom I had not met previously.
Certainly these spontaneous visits were mysterious as they had not seen or spoken to Brad in over 10 years and he had no desire to see or talk to them. Even so, they kept coming over and calling, pleading to be let in and insisting that they talk to Brad alone "in case he had something to tell them."
I called Kathleen Kiernan a few months after Brad's death and asked her to please advise her son, Dermot Kiernan, that I am legally entitled to information regarding my husband's position, pension and investments with Junior Gym. Her reply to me was that if I were nicer to Dermot, maybe he would tell me.
I believe that Junior Gym has a legal and moral obligation to provide me with the details of my husband's position at Junior Gym, including his pension plan and investment relationship.
Evidently I will have to hire an attorney to force this firm to respond to my request. What a terribly shameful ending to the 28 year career of a much beloved teacher. All the money he so carefully invested for our retirement has somehow disappeared into thin air along with his interest and dividends for the last 9 months.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Brad thought he was investing for retirement. In reality he was just lining other people's pockets. Shame on Junior Gym.
Once again it only takes one mentally disturbed person to smear the good name of many. I have followed Jessika May's actions since Brads death and it is clear that she has some serious mental challenges. Her conspiracy theories just don't add up. I have yet to see any physical evidence that supports a single one of the many accusations she has plagued the internet with. When in fact her behavior in the 2 months leading up to Brad's death until now has been very manipulative and greed driven. She has made factitious claims and accusations against Brad's friends, family and colleagues for her own financial benefit. Until Jessika produces creditable evidence supporting any one of her claims I continue to support the businesses and people in question and would urge Jessika to seek medical help.
I was a student of Brad and Dermot for 14 years. I loved them like fathers . They were wonderful teachers . In my late teen years, I worked for them doing birthday parties and helping at off site parties . I knew them both very well . When I was 18 brads wife, Jessica called me drunk and accused me of being romantically connected to Brad . I was heart broken, never ever was I, nor did those intentions ever show from either male roll model . Brad called me back, mortified with his new alcoholic wife's behavior . It does not surprise me that she is smearing the best relationship he had, all over the web. Brad had no desk, no personal items . He would place his gym bag on the shoe rack and would take smoke breaks in the back . I do not know of his investments or pensions .. however I fully believe she is an evil sick woman and reading all this, even years later .. breaks my heart and reminds me of my first impression of this drunk evil accusing woman . May she get the help she needs.