Always cut the cards, Woodie. You may lose anyhow - but not as often, nor as much. And when you do lose, smile.
Blake Hall Sued
Submitted by Sisyphus on Thu, 12/10/2009 - 1:44pm.
As a follow up to the judge throwing the book at Blake Hall, his stalking victim and her husband have filed a civil suit against Hall and an accomplice for damages alleging seven counts of tortious misconduct and requesting permission to plead a claim for punitive damages. The lawsuit also discloses the name of the victim, Allison Chambers. From Popkey:
Hall, 56, is a former chairman of the Idaho Republican Party and spent 23 years on the Republican National Committee, a post he resigned last month after his guilty plea. He was a member of the Idaho State Board of Education for nine years before resigning in April. He continues to manage the state-county catastrophic health care fund.
* * *
Their complaint in District Court in Bonneville County also names Matthew Drake. Drake, a friend and housemate of Hall's, told Idaho Falls police that he left used condoms at the Chamberses' home. A police report says Hall and/or Drake left a total of 19 condoms at the Chambers' home in 10 incidents earlier this year.
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The Chamberses allege that Hall twice entered Allison Chambers' home in April 2009, before her marriage to John Chambers. The complaint says Hall followed her to restaurants, a movie theater and Walmart, and once entered her vehicle and refused Mrs. Chambers' request that he leave. On another occasion, he entered a car where Mrs. Chambers was a passenger, "jump(ing) into the car in an effort to prevent Allison from leaving and laid across her lap."
A copy of the complaint is available in the upper right hand corner of the Popkey article.
This is gonna hurt Hall more than fifteen days in jail. Hall probably has a policy of insurance that may possibly be liable for some of the damages alleged. The significance of this factoid is that he may be able to secure a paid legal defense through the policy, but the insurance company will probably not be liable for any amounts a jury will impose. Most insurance policies do not cover 'intentional conduct' or 'punitive damages' and will defend only with a 'reservation of rights' under their policy.
I expect that Blake will have his own attorney as well since he's a deep pocket. Dave Leroy ain't cheap. If punitive damages are allowed to go to the jury, and they will, Hall will have to cough up all information regarding his assets so the jury can fix a proper award to deter future similar conduct.
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No doubt Blake will not represent himself
If the out come is as draconian as you believe Sis will Blake have his malpractice insurance revoked, and if so will he still be able to practice law without it?
And is the Idaho State Bar Association expected to take a stand here or are they trying to be as irrelevant as ever.
"will Blake have his
"will Blake have his malpractice insurance revoked"--don't think so.
"And is the Idaho State Bar Association expected to take a stand here or are they trying to be as irrelevant as ever."--well bar counsel is pretty smart and won't run down something that would be pointless. There was a time when we swore an oath to refrain from acts involving moral turpitude, whatever that is. But for the most part, we're prevented from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation or committing criminal acts which reflect adversely on the lawyers honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.
Certainly the last provision is implicated in his conviction. Whether she's pursued a complaint with the bar remains to be seen.
Personally I'm shocked the prosecutor in Ashton is still actively defending keeping him on the payroll.
"Personally I'm shocked
the prosecutor in Ashton is still actively defending keeping him on the payroll"
She might just be the current focus of Blakes obssesions, the man seems to have OCD and it might seem complimentary to her at first but it will become ugly in the end. Again.
Ashton, runned-dover dogs, and assorted funny business
Hi, eric...
The Ashton prosecutor is probably just playing partisan Stand By Your Man. That community really needs a battalion of mental health experts permanently stationed there. I blame it on the winters and inbreeding.
There are some folks here who are questioning Ms. Chamber's motives, and why she didn't report at least some of the events to the police. Hall still has some supporters, even with that completely over the top behavior with the condoms.
But more interesting to me is how this isn't the current hot story in the Upper Snake River Valley. The story that is really being talked about is over a mother dog who was hit by a car on a rural Jefferson County road.
The Sheriff, Blair Olsen, had Andi Elliott, leader of the local humane society and leader of the local Teabaggers, arrested for trespassing after Elliott went to the house and talked to the owner about the dog, who had both legs and a hip broken and was left outside, unattended, in the snow for 3 days with no medical attention.
Elliott called a guy from an animal rescue in Boise, who came down and got the dog and her pups. He took them back to Boise where the dog was treated, and is now on the way to recovery. Sheriff Olsen had him arrested for theft and some other charges.
The dog's owner was never arrested or charged with anything, and Olsen isn't saying a damn thing about nothing, except for an opaque pass-the-buck letter to the paper.
Suits, countersuits, recalls on Olsen and God Knows What is forthcoming, and the owner has already started a lawsuit.
Elliott, in her role as head tub thumper for the Teabaggers, has been an abrasive and divisive presence locally all year, and was black balled as a letter-writer by the Post Register, but she has wide support for her part in the dog matter. And there are other anti-Olsen claims being made about other instances of his indifference and/or favoritism in similar matters.
Meanwhile, Hall's ongoing troubles are running very far back in public discussion. I expect he's very grateful for the mamma dog scandal.
Elliott
So, I saw the headline to this story about the dog (either on KIDK or on the Journal's website or somewhere else locally) and I kept expecting the video to show this guy jumping over the lady's fence, grabbing a dog and making a break for it. Wow was I mislead, but seriously, this is the biggest story we've got going?
And by guy...
...I meant the Boise animal rescue guy, though seeing Elliott jump over the fence would have been rather comical, too!
more dog story
The dog incident just keeps growing.
Olsen, the Jefferson County sheriff, got a pounding at a Commissioner's meeting, and blamed it all on the county Prosecutor. Folks are asking why the dog owner was never cited for animal abuse, as the dog went unattended for 3 days after having both hind legs broken. So now, the Prosecutor is getting heat.
The guy in Boise (Chris?) has a high-powered attorney working for him now. The lawyer said he was able to squelch an order to appear in court that would have landed his client in jail, as the order was for a day when the court would be closed- Christmas Day, I think it was. More Prosecutor boo-boo.
And an appearance on Oprah is scheduled. The National Humane Society office is also now involved.
Meanwhile, the dog owner is suing the animal rescue outfit for selling some of the puppies. They stated that no pups have been sold. I except they may sue the dog's owner for the vet bills, transportation to the vet (in Boise), kenneling, and damages.
Nothing like an good old-fashioned Idaho kerfuffle for Christmas! Personally, I like mine well heated and drizzled with strong rum....