You don't think a former employee spreading what could be false information through one who claims he's going to pick up the pieces isn't a real issue? I'm sure they could care less what insignificant posters like yourself or I are writing but those ranting they may take more than a passing interest.
Besides it being a legal party, the more the merrier, you must know how departments can be much stuffier.
Don't let your prejudices, assumptions and ego cause you to come to conclusions which on the surface seem sound and correct but in reality are flawed