A New Beginning

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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Today I decided to change the name of my blog from "The Trevino-Alfieri Story" to "The Trevino Story." There was something unsettling about having my last name linked to Victor's by a hyphen. Although I am still litigating this lawsuit against him, I no longer want to have my name associated with his - at least, I do not want to create more posts on my blog under that combined name.

After all, it is my story. I am aware that I am the only person who sees the world the way I do. Therefore, I have a unique way to interpret the events that happened and continue happening .

Because I truly enjoy writing, I want to feel free to write about other subjects not related to Alfieri.  As some of you know, over a year ago, I started another blog "Who Is Writing Your Story?" That blog has had very few visitors. I remember talking to some friends and saying, "why do people go to the drama-filled Trevino-Alfieri Story when they can read something inspiring and uplifting on my other blog "Who's Writing Your Story?"

It seems like people are naturally drawn to drama. It is just human nature. That is the reason why about a year ago I decided to incorporate some of my realizations and insights that were intended for "Who's Writing Your Story?" in this blog. Why not offer some "entertaining" drama while also sharing valuable and inspiring messages?  And why not change the name of this blog to something that is more accurately descriptive of its contents?

Share Your Story

We all have a story to tell. Although some stories might resemble others, each story is truly unique.  We are the only ones who can tell our story accurately - nobody else. We are the ones who write it and the only ones that can ultimately understand it and make sense of it. By sharing our thoughts and truth with others, we allow others to share theirs with us as well. It is through sharing and listening, that we open up to others. We are then able to realize how similar our experiences really are and how easily our souls can connect if we simply allow them.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

First Amendment

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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By reading the title of this post, it could be inferred that I will be discussing the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which deals with freedom of speech, press and religion. Although that is not the case, it might seem appropriate as I write another post for this blog.

Because I filed a new lawsuit against Victor Alfieri, I am being very selective when disclosing information on developments on the case. The truth is that I have written about five different posts that are not published yet. I want to make sure it is the right time to share certain information publicly.

On November 7, 2014, I filed a First Amended Complaint. I shortened my complaint from 42 pages to 15. I removed Daniela Carloni and Black Knight Entertainment from the complaint. Why did I do so? Because Black Knight Entertainment is Alfieri himself doing business as such company, it is not appropriate to include Black Knight as an independent entity.

Daniela Carloni, Alfieri's mother, is no longer a defendant in this case not because I believe she is not responsible for what I contend in my original complaint, but because it would become costly for me to continue including her in the legal action. Plus, proving that there is jurisdiction to have her as a defendant when she resides in Italy and having papers served to her would add to the work I have to do.

For First Amended Complaint, please read below.

Guardian Angels

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

Do You Believe in Angels?

I do. Because I grew up catholic, my belief in angels was something that developed in a very natural, organic way.  When I was about 6 years old, I was having terrible nightmares that were keeping me up at night. After telling my mom about this, she suggested I prayed before going to bed. She told me that we all had a guardian angel who protected us at all times.  My mom also bought me this beautiful porcelain angel that she placed right above my bed. My nightmares immediately ceased.

What are angels?

After reading many definitions for "angel" from different sources, I chose the simple definition google offers.

an•gel   /ˈānjəl/

noun
1. a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe.
2. a person of exemplary conduct or virtue.
3. a person who supports a business financially, typically one who invests private capital in a small or newly established enterprise.

I have encountered many "human"angels in my life - from my childhood best friend to two total strangers who came to my rescue when my car got stuck in the snow on a bitter cold Minnesota winter day.

We also have probably been "angels" to at least one other person in our life.  Just think about how your actions and your simple presence affect your surroundings and every single person who interacts with you. These people that are touched and affected by your actions and energy also have the same effect on others. It is like a domino effect. Well, I would describe it more like a source or "core" that branches out in every direction and multiplies exponentially.

According to the definition provided by google, there is an "angel" who financially supports newly established enterprises. We could say then that I was an "angel" to the production of "Looking for Clarissa" - at least an "angel INVESTOR." Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had chosen to not invest in this film. I start thinking of all that money I spent on the production of the film and on attorneys I hired to litigate this case... the money I lost in business due to Alfieri's slanderous allegations. I would have close to $500,000 in the bank!... Or would I? Does it really matter?

What matters to me is that when I decided to put money in this project, I did it believing it was a good investment into a future I wanted - film production. I was also helping a loved one achieve his dream of becoming a film director.

I have been so fortunate to encounter so many angels in my life path. Some have come to help me learn valuable lessons. Others have come to simply keep a door toward new ideas and opportunities open so I can walk through it.

Because we are angels to one another, we always have the opportunity to be generous and kind with our actions.  A selfless act of kindness is certainly angel-like behavior.

Thank you  - Mom, dad, Teresa, Karla, Marcela, Norma, Fernando, Sandra, Flor, Eloisa, Lourdes, Ken, Jason, Diana, Marjorie, Angie, David, Vivian, Gina, Arthur, Brian, April, Natalie, Alessia, Erik, Raul, Jorj, Tieg, Carlos, Jaime, Mike, Natalia, Hugh, Noel, Ian, Martha, Ka, Andrea, Erica, Jenna, Zee, Marco, Mary, Ricardo, Laura, Matt, John, Can, Christine, Roxane, Eva, Miguel, Marianne, Frances, Debra, Hass, David, Brad, Patricia, Dan, Becky, Sharon, Angelica, Alan, Bobby and Kevin.

And a special "thank you" to all those angels who have been supportive during this Trevino-Alfieri saga. I don't need to give specific names. You know who you are.

Some of these angels are still an important part of my life while others have left in not the best of terms. It really does not matter. What I know is that they have all touched my life in a meaningful way - they have helped me become who I am in the world today.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

From the Midwest to Hollywood

I have always liked California and its beautiful weather all year round. Being in California always gave me a sense of freedom and being on vacation. I had been visiting Los Angeles for many years before I decided to get an apartment in the LA metro area in 2009.  It seemed like the sensible thing to do since I was to start a Master's in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica and had also started working with GATE (Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment).

I had been living in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota) for many years and was ready for a change. To be totally honest, I have never really moved 100% to Los Angeles. Because I have a business in Minnesota and that is where my source of income is, I have always kept my legal residence there.

We could say I am still a Minnesotan - an "adopted" Minnesotan who loves the lakes, cheers for the Vikings and the Twins... and constantly talks about the weather, especially when winter hits.

The weather is almost always beautiful in California - a real paradise. It is irrefutable that Los Angeles  is different from the midwest, specifically Hollywood and its Entertainment Industry - so different that it could be a different planet.

I remember having lunch with Jason, someone I had recently met at the time. He had been an actor and lived in LA for a long time. He told me he could not take it anymore, that he had to move away. So he did. He happened to be visiting when he and I met. I also remember he looked at me and said with a concerned tone in his voice, "just don't let Hollywood get to you. Don't forget who you are. Don't lose yourself by becoming Hollywood."  I remember not really understanding what he was saying, especially with becoming"Hollywood." Now I know exactly what he meant.

After five years in Los Angeles, the following is a list of some of the things with which I have become involved since I stepped into the "Entertainment Industry."

1) Transformational Entertainment
2) Event Production
3) Public Relations
4) Six movie projects
5) Two talk shows
6) Script development
7) Work with best-seller authors
8) USM (University of Santa Monica)
9) Two lawsuits
10) A Hollywood scandal that came and left - soon forgotten by everyone (but me)
11) TMZ

The last three things mentioned on the list above might not seem like very positive experiences. Some of my friends and acquaintances in Minnesota feel bad for what I have gone through and ask me to go back "home" to Minnesota  ( 100% - full time) and forget about LA.

So Where is My Home Now????

I believe that a "home" is not a dot on a map. While a city might feel like a stable residence at a specific time in my life, in a few years I could be relocating somewhere else.  That does not mean that I have left my "home." After living in many cities and countries, I have learned that our true home remains unaltered because it is within us - it is in our heart. We take our home wherever we go.  We just have to  choose a geographical location where our spirit feels free to expand and evolve.

The "Soul" of the Judicial System

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential

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-If you google "soul" and "justice" together, you will find countless links to books, quotes, articles, movements and humane organizations. There is very little mentioned when it relates to the courts system.  Why is that? Is it because the Judicial System, our system of justice has no soul?

Let's define some of these terms.  According to Merriam-Webster.com, "soul" and " justice" can be defined as:

Soul 
-immaterial essence;
-a person's total self;
-the moral and emotional nature of human beings;
-spiritual or moral force.

Justice
-the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishment.
-judge;
-the quality of being just, impartial or fair;
-conformity to truth, fact, or reason.

As to "Judicial System" also know as "Judiciary," I got this definition from
legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com.

Judiciary - The branch of government that is endowed the authority to interpret and apply the law, adjudicate legal disputes, and otherwise administer justice.

As to my lawsuit against Alfieri ... About a month ago, I went to the Los Angeles Superior Court because Alfieri's attorney was filing an emergency ex-parte request to stay discovery. I did some research and consulted with two attorneys on what to do. Both attorneys told me to appear in court and that I would be able to speak to the judge and voice my opposition to such order.

When I arrived I was told that the judge assigned to my case was the only judge, or one of the few that did not take the bench for ex-parte hearings, that she only accepted written documents. Seriously? I am notified of this hearing the day before and Alfieri's attorney does not give me any documents specifying the legal basis for his petition? How am I supposed to respond in my opposition letter?

I asked if I  could handwrite it. The clerk told me that I could not do so. She was clearly losing her patience with me. She told me to go to the first floor and get some forms or to at least get pleading paper to write it down. She added, "I don't know if the judge will accept a handwritten document, plus it has to have the proper formatting."   I also asked if Alfieri's attorney had turned in any papers and the clerk said no.  "I still have time," I thought.

I went to the first floor, bought the paper and drafted the document with the correct formatting. When I went back to the courtroom, I handed the paper to the clerk. She then said, "I don't think the judge will accept this. It's too late." I could not believe my ears. Why would this clerk first tell me that the reason the judge would not accept my letter was because it was handwritten and later tell me that the reason  was because I was too late submitting it?

The clerk did not want to accept the piece of paper I was offering. I asked her to please talk to the judge and see if she would accept it.  My letter simply stated that I did not agree with that order - something that in other courtrooms is done in front of the judge. She went into the judge's chambers and less than a minute later she came right out. "No, she will not accept it. But she said that you had very nice handwriting."

I asked the clerk again, "when did it become too late to submit this?" She responded, at 8:30 when I opened the courtroom. So why make me go through all that????  I said, "the other attorney was not even here at 8:30 am." To my surprise Alfieri's attorney was sitting in the back of the courtroom. He claimed that he had been there the whole time. The clerk said, "yes, he has been here since 8:30."

The truth is that I did not see him at 8:35 when I stepped into the courtroom for the first time. I even asked the clerk about my case and she told me he had not submitted anything.  Why would she give contradictory statements?

I immediately went toward Jason L. Fisher, Alfieri's attorney, to greet him. He did not seem very happy to see me. I would like to share my impression of him, but I will reserve my opinion for now.... at least while this case is still pending.  The only thing I will say is this - Victor has found an attorney who will faithfully represent his interests, values and ethics. Victor made an excellent choice when hiring this specific attorney. I believe that Jason L. Fisher is the perfect attorney for him.

It is sad to realize that the last thing we can expect when dealing with the judicial system is to be treated with consideration and integrity.  It is really about "playing the game" and not about bringing justice.

I will seek more legal advice before proceeding. I need to be prepared for the "legal battle."

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Nowhere to Hide

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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I remember back in 1993, when I was attending school, specifically an Information Technology course, we were discussing the future of the World Wide Web.  We were talking about companies transitioning to digitalized electronic communication and advertising.

We also discussed what ATT was proposing - a device that would allow to make video phone calls. It almost seemed like an impossibility back then. Only a decade later, Skype emerged. Now, we can make video calls with our iphones as well - not to mention, messenger, yahoo and so many other different Video Conference Platforms.

And what about Social Media? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn are the first social networking websites that come to mind because I use them.  But we cannot forget other sites that have over 5 million users each, such as About.me, Bebo, Buzznet, Care2, CaringBridge, Classmates.com, Cyworld, delicious, deviantART, Flickr, Flixster, Fotolog, Foursquare, Friends Reunited, Friendster, Gaia Online, Geni.com, Google+, Habbo, hi5, Instagram, Last.fm, LiveJournal, MyHeritage, MyLife, Netlog, Plaxo, Yammer, Yelp and Xanga.

We could say that every time we post something on our facebook wall or our twitter account, we are sharing it with the world. Our life somehow gets documented through the pictures and posts we and others post on the web. Even when we post a simple comment or a review - that also becomes part of our "history."

The internet has become an essential tool in routine background checks independently conducted. Have you googled any person you have dated? What about employees you have considered hiring? Companies or services you have planned on using? Places you dream of visiting? Everything and everyone is just a keystroke away.

We could say that everyone's life is somehow "documented" on the web.  Well, only for those who have interacted with the internet and their social network websites. There are people, like my mother, who are not best friends with technology and prefer to use more traditional ways of communication.

Texting and electronic mail have also become preferred methods of communication among many.
And because MOST people nowadays have at least an email account and a cellular phone with texting capabilities, there is practically "nowhere to hide." There is no real excuse to say, "I am not reachable." You can opt to not return emails or voice messages...  but to make a claim that those communications did not reach you??? Really?

It is also true that sometimes emails or text messages don't get delivered. I will not argue with that. But if you are really trying to contact somebody, wouldn't you try at least a couple of times?  I assure you that you will be able to have your message delivered.

Social media has become such an important part of our identity and life that there is a clear trend that will allow process service through social media or electronic mail.  Below there is an excerpt from an article by Legal Language Services:

"Facebook alone boasts a user base significantly larger than the entire population of North America. While service of process via such social media sources is not a mainstay of domestic service in the US, several countries have begun to adopt this as a method of service.

"In 2008, an Australian court first allowed for service of process via Facebook, and courts in New Zealand have followed suit. In 2012, a High Court Judge in the UK also approved service of process via Facebook.

"Even Twitter has been used to effect service in the UK. In September 2009, the High Court allowed an injunction against an anonymous blogger to be served via Twitter. A well-known British lawyer and conservative blogger, Donal Blaney, obtained an injunction after a previously-unknown blogger began impersonating him on the Internet.

"Canadian attorneys also routinely obtain orders to serve documents via Facebook when a defendant cannot be personally found or is actively trying to evade service."

---- Legal Language Services  What to Consider Before Serving Process via Social Media

Daniela Carloni, Victor Alfieri's mother, is one of the defendants in the lawsuit I filed last April. She lives in Italy. In order to serve her the summons and complaint, I had to follow the rules of the Hague Convention, as Italy is one of its signatories. Interestingly enough, Italy allows service via regular postal mail. An Italian attorney told me that in Italy, by law, all citizens must be registered under an "official" address. Legal documents that are delivered to that address are considered as "DELIVERED" - no signature needed.

Daniela Carloni was officially served in May 2014. She was served by priority mail, certified mail and email. She received the complaint and summons in both English and Italian. It has been over 60 days after her service. She has not responded.

Defendants typically have 30 days to respond. I am not sure how long Daniela has, as she lives abroad. She can claim that she needs time to respond. She could also claim that she did not receive the documents although I have clear proof of delivery by mail (2 separate deliveries). What she won't be able to claim is that she was not aware of the lawsuit.  Her only son is the main defendant in this case. The lawsuit involves the movie filmed in Calcata, where she resides. No judge would believe she had no idea this lawsuit had been filed.

Some people ask my why I sued Daniela. My complaint explains her involvement. You can read it by clicking on this link - Complaint.  What Victor and Daniela did, at least, what I believe they did, should be brought to a court of law and should be heard by a judge and jury. I don't believe people should be allowed to commit fraud through deceit and manipulation and get away with it simply because nobody is willing to do anything about it... or because it is time to move on.

This is my story. I do not blame anyone, not even Victor or Daniela for how the story turns out.  What happened in the past is done and cannot be changed. What we have now is the present... and a future that will eventually become the present.  I hold no resentment against anyone who has been somehow involved in this "story." I am proceeding with this lawsuit because it is what feels right for me. This is the way I find balance - by stepping away from the victim's position and standing up for my truth.

My life is my story. I am the one writing it. Nobody can write it for me. I refuse to be a victim of circumstances. Bad things don't happen to me. There is no such thing as a BAD experience.  A seemingly bad experience that knocks me to the ground simply happens so I can take a break, regroup and regain awareness of what truly matters to me.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.

Six Degrees of Separation

Update as of 10-15-2018 -- The case has been dismissed by both parties.  As we have agreed to move forward, the dismissed case will remain confidential.

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According to Wikipedia -

Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of a "friend of friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps.

I could not agree more with this theory. In fact, I would not be surprised that new technology, social media networks and instant digital communication with even the most remote places worldwide, have resulted in a considerable decrease of that six-degree stretch.

Last week, I was trying to find an attorney in Rome to help me with my lawsuit. The film was shot in Italy and one of the defendants resides there. It made sense to me to get some legal guidance from someone who can navigate the Italian judicial system and who has handled cases such as mine... Maybe not exactly like mine, but cases that cross country borders.

I went to the Italian Embassy's website. The website provides a list of attorneys who are familiar and experienced with both the US and the Italian legal systems.  I wrote to all of them. Most of them replied immediately. A couple of them called me as soon as they read my message.

I have to admit that it was refreshing to talk and correspond via email with some of these Italian attorneys. They were very helpful and willing to listen. They were so animated when they talked... and that lovely Italian accent!

Because the attorneys I contacted were located in Rome, it was not so surprising that they knew of Calcata and have been there several times.  After all, it is just a 45 minute drive.  One of the lawyers said, "oh, Calcata, yes. I have been there many times. I go eat there often... beautiful place!"

I did not expect what was to happen when I googled two of the attorneys to whom I talked. I found their LinkedIn profiles. When I was about to request to connect with them, I realized that we already had over 100 connections in common.  This happened with both of the attorneys, not just one! Over 100 people in common! Who could ever imagine that!

Isn't it incredible how close we already are to people that we consider "strangers"?  Has it ever happened to you that you meet a person and when you request his/her friendship on Facebook, you realize you have at least one friend in common?... And this mutual friend lives in a different continent!

I believe that the theory of six degrees of separation is becoming increasingly evident. I would even dare to call it "six degrees of connectedness." If we had "imaginary" string and used it to individually connect to every single human being that we personally know... and if all these people were also to connect in the same manner to everyone they know, we would end up with a complex human network that covers the entire world, leaving nobody out.

It is just like our physical body. We have legs, arms, head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, internal organs... that are somewhat independent but still part of a whole. It is the same with humanity although we sometimes seem to forget. So, let's reach out to our loved ones, our community, our nation, our neighboring countries.... and those who seem to be so far and unreachable. Remember that six degrees do not separate us... but connect us all. In reality, we could not be closer to one another... We are one.

Disclaimer – As of October 15, 2018, all legal issues have been resolved. This resolution was reached during arbitration. There are no pending issues related to fraud or theft. The resolution was mutually agreeable. There will be no more posts written about this story.