by Joan Mell, candidate for County Attorney, Hamilton
The Ravalli County Sheriff was just ordered to uphold a promise to pay $50,000 to an arrestee in a case of no liability.
Sheriff, I promise when I am County Attorney I will never let you stipulate to a personal judgment against you or your deputies for $50,000 in a case of no liability. You are setting your standards too low when accepting that kind of liability or performance from your County Attorney and attesting to it as “excellent support in the form of civil legal advice to my Office.”
Where are you going to get the $50,000? Will you be suing Bill or his designee for malpractice? Historically Bill defaults on malpractice claims, but he bankrupted both of them against him and never paid. Will you expect the County or its carrier be footing the bill? Constitutional civil rights violations under Section 1983 are not typically covered when against the Sheriff and his deputy individually. I guess the County could indemnify you with Commissioner approval, but that is not really fair to take the money from the public.
I cannot for the life of me understand why you would agree to take a judgment against you for non-nuisance value if you and your deputy did nothing wrong and without conditioning the offer on denial of your motion. Not good lawyering as the case opinion indicates.
You and your deputy have not been well served, neither has Ravalli County. I can and will do better. Both barrels loaded. Ready to serve.
Becky says
I hope you do a better job and go back and prosecute cases that have been sitting while Bill does nothing for years. He has not done his job.
S. Schmidt says
No one who has been a victim of crime in Ravalli County would ever consider voting to keep Bill Fulbright as County Attorney. “Deal Maker Bill “ is not good for law abiding Ravalli citizens or our Deputies.
Melva Neal says
I am voting for Bill Fulbright
Lance Broshar says
I voted for Bill Fulbright.