The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to reject a settlement reached by county risk management in the Deborah Ballard case. This decision represents foolish pandering and fiscal irresponsibility.
By the time this case comes to trial again in several months, we will have spent at least another $500,000, bringing our total legal expenses to $2.7 million or more, plus other fees and costs.
Then we roll the dice. On one side, a diabetic mother. On the other, depraved indifference, gross incompetence, destroyed and faked evidence. The jury comes back and what will it be? Only a million? $5 million? $30 million? If it’s $30 million, the county can expect to get its insurance cancelled — even with its current $5 million deductible per occurrence and no defense. Would any fiscally responsible person take such a gamble? With our money?
And what will happen in the future? This jackpot will stiffen other plaintiff claims and generate many more. With risk management’s credibility damaged, settlements will be harder to come by and more expensive. We all will pay for this decision into the far future.
Throw the bums OUT.
Bob Unferth
Phoenix
bobunf posted at 10:41 am on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
Leon, among other things, it wasn't a majority. It was a tie, 2 to 2.
Why do you always have to shout?
But, even when an elected body does make a decision by majority vote, that doesn't mean it is a wise decision immune from any criticism. You may feel that way about Obamacare.
Sometimes elected officials make decisions that are so bad, the official need to be removed from office, say in an election. You may feel that way about Obama.
In this case, the Board made a really stupid decision - just from a business point of view. I do not want such decisions made with my money. So I say again:
THROW THE BUMS OUT
And, amazingly enough, we do have an election for this purpose on Tuesday.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:28 am on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
In case our Letter Writer hasn't noticed....the Flag on display at the Maricopa County Supervisor's Room is the American Flag.
The Libs, Socialists, Commie Wanna-Be's and the other Democrats haven't taken our Court System away from us. If the Supervisors that were democratically elected wish to take this case to court after reading all the evidence and a majority of them decide that's the course they want to follow................THEN IN OUR AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC, MAJORITY RULES SOCIETY......THAT THE END OF IT.
YOU WANT ....MINORITY RULE.......THEN MOVE TO ONE OF THOSE ....MIDDLE-EASTERN OR AFRICAN NATIONS WHERE ONE MINORITY GROUP OR TRIBE OR WHATEVER RULES THIS WEEK.
Arizona Willie posted at 10:21 am on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
Sheriff Joe was RIGHT. The Board of Supervisors < IS > corrupt.
Don't forget -- the court dismissed the charges ( a judge who is a member of the same clic and the Board of Supervisors ) on a technicality.
The charges themselves WERE NEVER TRIED.
That does not make the Board of Supervisors INNOCENT.
Not by a long shot --- but Arizona being what it is -- the charges will NEVER see the light of another courtroom.
Rich posted at 7:39 pm on Thu, Nov 1, 2012.
If you elect incompetent people, don't expect competence. The people are only responsible for those they re-elect. Looks like we messed up big time.