Post by KC on Jan 7, 2007 18:07:23 GMT -5
Sheriff Steve Leverton
Deputy Chris Laird
LIBERTY, Ind. -- The civil lawsuit filed against former Union County Sheriff Steve Leverton and former Chief Deputy Chris Laird by Liberty Police Officer Russ Burroughs has been settled.
The $3,000 settlement cost Union County $2,500, the commissioners learned Wednesday.
Burroughs sued Leverton in 2005, after their cruisers collided at a July 4, 2003, fire west of town.
Burroughs said he was injured when Leverton slammed the cruiser door on his leg.
Leverton was charged with misdemeanor battery but was given a pre-trial diversion agreement.
The county's law enforcement liability insurance has a $2,500 deductible, so the insurance company paid only $500 of the settlement.
The settlement was made payable to Burroughs and his attorneys, Allen Wellman and McNew.
Attorney Tom Thompson, who represents Union County, said insurance companies often settle cases for an amount that barely exceeds the policyholder's deductible.
"They settle for $3,000 and make it go away and they're off the hook," Thompson said of Midwest Claims Service. "It's no surprise it was settled in December. You've met the deductible for the year and a new (deductible) begins in January."
Auditor Virginia Bostick said she'd checked with the insurance carrier that provides elected officials' bonds and learned no claim to cover the cost of the settlement can be made there.
"That's only when there's misuse of funds," Bostick said.
Burroughs did not immediately return a call for comment.
The pre-trial diversion agreement for Leverton allowed the charge to be erased following six months of good behavior, but Leverton was required to write a letter of apology to Burroughs for his "unprofessional language and conduct" after the accident.
Later in 2005, Laird was added as a defendant in the civil suit against Leverton because Burroughs said Laird was harassing him and encouraging others to lie about him to create a case of official misconduct against him.
Earlier that year, Burroughs took a statement from a jail inmate who accused the sheriff of battering him.
No charges were filed against the sheriff in that case.
In May 2006, Burroughs arrested Laird on charges of resisting arrest and invasion of privacy because Laird was accused of violating a protective order by attending the high school prom walk-in.
A special prosecutor declined to charge Laird.
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