As former staff members of IHOPKC and those involved with the organization of the recent petition, we would like to express our grave concern with IHOP’s recent decision to move forward with a local law firm.  

While IHOP has said this is a response to “third  parties” who have communicated a “lack of trust in the national law firm” STINSON LLP, we believe this misrepresents our concerns—and further, we believe this move offers even less transparency to the concerned public, as the law firm has yet to be named. A local firm also raises new concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given IHOP’s level of integration with the local community. 

We would also like to express concern that this is a performative gesture—it does not appear to be motivated by a sensitivity toward the trauma of victims, as it does not address the issues raised in the petition. 

We again would like to urge IHOPKC to take a trauma informed approach and seek out an unbiased, true third party when proceeding in this investigation. 

Above is a graphic demonstrating what we believe to be an ethical baseline for proceeding forward.

In solitary, 

RFI Petition Team

Gracia

Susan Tuma

Brantley Smith

Isaac Cole