DECLARATION OF PALDEN RONGE
I, Palden
Ronge, do state and declare as follows:
1.
I am a citizen of
the Canada and permanent resident of the United States. I currently
reside in Los
Angeles California. Except as to those matters
stated on information and belief, I have personal knowledge of the facts set
forth herein and could and would testify competently if asked to do so.
2.
My wife, Lila Rich, and I have
known Kelley for years. I personally met
her in approximately
1988. We are close family
friends and I know her sons, Rutger and Ray.
We visited each other socially on many occasions and participated in
many religious events together.
3.
Kelley was an excellent and loving
mother. She took her role as a parent
seriously and saw to it
that her sons received the best education. She ensured that their personal needs were
met in every way. Ms. Lynch was
particularly diligent in supervising her children to insulate them from the
urban youth culture of drug and alcohol abuse.
Kelley’s sons are wonderful young men.
4.
I have known Kelley to be a
well-connected, professional woman, who multi-tasked at a dizzying
pace as she managed the business affairs for Leonard Cohen. Kelley worked as Cohen’s personal manager for
many years. I met Mr. Cohen socially
with Kelley on numerous occasions. It
never once crossed my mind that they were involved in any type of intimate
dating relationship. Nor had I heard
anything to indicate that their relationship was anything but
professional. I know Kelley’s
ex-husband, Douglas Penick, the father of her younger son (Steve Lindsey), and
from 1988 through the present feel it is accurate to say that her relationship
with Leonard Cohen was a professional business relationship.
5.
I also worked with Kelley when she
and Oliver Stone sponsored a Tibetan Buddhist meditation
center for His Holiness Kusum Lingpa. His Holiness Kusum Lingpa was a highly
regarded Tibetan Buddhist master. I had
the good fortune to serve as an interpreter for this remarkable man and was
involved in translating certain religious texts. His Holiness appointed Kelley to be his chos
kyi dags mos (lineage holder) and she worked quite diligently on his
behalf. It is my personal belief that Kelley
conducts herself professionally, ethically, and honestly in all areas of her
life.
6.
I attended the January 17, 2014
hearing in this matter and had hoped to testify on Kelley’s behalf.
The opportunity to do so was not presented. I
visited Kelley throughout the summer of 2005.
His Eminence Choegon Rinpoche, a mutual friend, often accompanied
me on these visits. Throughout the
summer of 2005, I distinctly recall Kelley’s appearance in the summer of 2005. At that time, she had bright blue eyes, very
dark short hair, was approximately 5’6”, and very thin (perhaps weighing 110
pounds). For years, she had worn her
hair very light blonde and it took me some time to grow accustomed to Kelley’s
dark hair and new look.
7.
I distinctly recall during the
summer and fall of 2005 Kelley’s frustrated attempts to address the
fact that she was not served Leonard Cohen’s lawsuit. Kelley has continuously and consistently
maintained that she was not served the summons and complaint.
I declare under
penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing
is
true and correct and that I executed this
Declaration on the 6th day of October 2014 at Los Angeles
California.
___________________________________
Palden
Ronge