Campaign Q&A - lawsuits

Recently a commenter asked what lawsuits I intend to stop at the Sheriff's Department, if I am elected Sheriff.

OK, how about civil rights' lawsuits that stem from unnecessary injuries to senior citizens?

There is a case in Federal Court right now against the McHenry County Sheriff's Department because some deputies roughed up an 80-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife, instead of leaving their home after arresting their son.

Even the execution of the warrant for the arrest of their son was questionable, but he was already out of the house when his parents were injured.

This is a clear example of what needs to stop in McHenry County. After the (adult) son was in the patrol car and Mr. and Mrs. Pavlin told the deputies to get out of their home, the deputies needed to leave. The Pavlins thought the deputies intended to search their home, for which they did not have a warrant, and they knew the son's home had been "tossed" on a previous occasion.

This one is likely to cost the taxpayers a big chunk, not only with defense fees but when a jury slams the Sheriff's Department with a loss in court.

A public list of all the legal actions against Sheriff Nygren and the Department would cause any taxpayer and voter a good case of insomnia and heartburn. Of course, it's all public information but buried out-of-sight.

Legal costs have prevented other lawsuits, along with the need to get an out-of-county attorney to get the experience and independence needed.

I always thought a good case against the Sheriff's Department would be by the woman whose house was surrounded in mid-day by six SWAT team guys in full tactical gear with guns drawn, because she had forgotten to pay $200-300 in court costs after her car was totalled. A letter and a $0.44 stamp would have gotten payments resumed to the court! Did that attempt to serve a warrant traumatize her teen-age daughter?

And remember, of course, the tens of thousands of dollars wasted in personnel lawsuits.