Post by Logan on Jun 15, 2016 2:18:35 GMT -6
The men who led a failed recall effort against PUD Commissioner Ned Piper may be reimbursed by the utility’s insurer for some or all of the $44,787 they paid to cover his legal fees, and they may get additional money to cover their own legal expenses as well.
The claims assert that two PUD officials encouraged and guided the men to file the recall.
Attorneys said they believe they have reached a tentative settlement last week after Bill Ammons and Doug Irvine filed two separate claims for damages against the PUD. The utility hopes the settlement — details of which have not been disclosed yet — will close the books on the recall saga.
Ammons, Irvine and Chuck Wallace filed a recall petition against Piper in 2013, but they withdrew it after a Cowlitz County Superior Court judge refused to grant them more time to provide evidence of their claims. Judge Stephen Warning also ordered them to pay for Piper’s legal fees tied to what Warning called the “frivolous” recall.
The PUD’s insurance company, Ace Group/Chubb Limited, has negotiated for the last three months with the petitioners, according to heavily redacted (blacked out) documents The Daily News obtained through a state public records request. Dale Kamerrer, an Olympia attorney representing Ace Group, said the deal is meant to settle the claims out of court.
Read more: tdn.com/news/local/pud-insurance-company-to-settle-with-recall-trio/article_bc977671-43fe-56bc-b7d5-2de1973a93c9.html
The claims assert that two PUD officials encouraged and guided the men to file the recall.
Attorneys said they believe they have reached a tentative settlement last week after Bill Ammons and Doug Irvine filed two separate claims for damages against the PUD. The utility hopes the settlement — details of which have not been disclosed yet — will close the books on the recall saga.
Ammons, Irvine and Chuck Wallace filed a recall petition against Piper in 2013, but they withdrew it after a Cowlitz County Superior Court judge refused to grant them more time to provide evidence of their claims. Judge Stephen Warning also ordered them to pay for Piper’s legal fees tied to what Warning called the “frivolous” recall.
The PUD’s insurance company, Ace Group/Chubb Limited, has negotiated for the last three months with the petitioners, according to heavily redacted (blacked out) documents The Daily News obtained through a state public records request. Dale Kamerrer, an Olympia attorney representing Ace Group, said the deal is meant to settle the claims out of court.
Read more: tdn.com/news/local/pud-insurance-company-to-settle-with-recall-trio/article_bc977671-43fe-56bc-b7d5-2de1973a93c9.html