Courts

High Dollar Settlements Won’t Drive Up Insurance Premiums For Los Alamos County At This Time

by

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post 

Ed Zendel of the New Mexico Self Insurers’ Fund said during an interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post that he does not anticipate an increase in premiums for Los Alamos County.

The question was raised in light of the recent $2 million settlement to three former Los Alamos Police Officers including Cmdr. Randy Foster, Cmdr. Scott Mills and Det. Paige Early.

Zendel confirmed that the three largest settlements in New Mexico in the last five years involved Los Alamos County. In addition to this month’s $2 million settlement, the County also settled with

Read More

Governor Susana Martinez Announces Secretary Greg Fouratt Named United States Magistrate Judge

by

Cabinet Secretary Gregory J. Fourat

SANTA FE —  Gov. Susana Martinez has announced that New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) Cabinet Secretary Greg Fouratt will leave his post to become a United States Magistrate Judge in Las Cruces.

Secretary Fouratt has served as DPS cabinet secretary since February 2014 and was unanimously confirmed by the New Mexico State Senate in March 2015.

“Secretary Fouratt is a leader who puts New Mexico first, and I am proud of the work he has accomplished during his time in my administration,” Martinez said. “While we are sad to see him go, we know that Read More

Chandler: The Council Must Exercise Oversight

by

By CHRIS CHANDLER
Los Alamos Attorney

Los Alamos County, through the Municipal’s League’s Self-Insurer’s Fund, has settled several employment cases totaling about $4.5 million in the last four years. Consider the following:                   

2012: A Recreation Department Senior Office Specialist received a $175,000 settlement. Her complaint alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, and prima facie tort against the County Read More

Court Sanctions Los Alamos County In Police Case

by

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos County was sanctioned in December by the First Judicial District Court for its conduct related to the suit filed by former Police Cmdr. Randy Foster, former Cmdr. Scot Mills and former Det. Paige Early.

According to court documents obtained by the Los Alamos Daily Post, District Court Judge Raymond Ortiz sanctioned the County Dec. 1, 2015 and fined it more than $21,000 because its answers to discovery for Plaintiffs Foster, Mills and Early were “all deficient in a number of respects, including that some of the information provided by the County Read More

Governor Appoints Stephen French To New Mexico Court Of Appeals

by

STATE News:
 
SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez has announced the appointment of Stephen French to the New Mexico Court of Appeals, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cynthia Fry.
 
French brings a combined 35 years of public and private-sector legal experience to the Court. 

French served as assistant district attorney for the Second Judicial District from 1980 to 1981. Afterward, he went on to become a founding partner at Walz & French from 1982 to 1990. From 1990 to 1993, he served as legal bureau chief for the State of New Mexico

Read More

AG Balderas: Murderer Who Stabbed Ex-Girlfriend 90 Times Will Stay In Prison

by

NMSC News:
 
SANTA FE ― This week, the New Mexico Supreme Court agreed with arguments by the Office of the Attorney General and issued an opinion affirming the first-degree murder conviction of violent repeat offender Dorall Smith.
 
The victim was Smith’s ex-girlfriend. Smith had a threatening confrontation with the victim the day before the murder and repeatedly called and texted her the night of the murder. Her body was then discovered the next morning at her Albuquerque apartment. She had been stabbed approximately 90 times in a prolonged and
Read More

Going Solo: John W. Day Opens Private Law Practice

by

Criminal Defense Attorney John W. Day during an interview Friday in his new office in downtown Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

 

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

SANTA FE — After 20 years of representing clients in Los Alamos as a member of larger firms, attorney John W. Day has decided to go solo and open his own practice, John Day Law Office, LLC.

Day sat down with the Los Alamos Daily Post Friday afternoon to talk about his decision.

“The model of large law firms with big overhead expenses is changing,” Day said. “Opening my own practice allows me to keep the overhead Read More

Analysis Of Law; Policy Governing Office Of Sheriff

by

By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos Attorney

I will give you my best analysis of the law and policy considerations governing the existence and duties of the office of Sheriff of Los Alamos County and its relationship to the Police Department, and how these are affected by legislation pending in the New Mexico Legislature. 

I will make informal citations to the constitution and statutes of the State of New Mexico, The charter and a resolution of Los Alamos County, and two pending proposed constitutional amendments. The analysis is straightforward; however there are a number of authorities that Read More

Letter To The Editor: Two Sides To Every Dispute

by

By CHELLY YOUNG
Aspen Elementary
 

It’s 2 a.m. and I can’t sleep because I’m angry. I’m angry because of the discrimination lawsuit brought against my principal, Kathryn Vandenkieboom, and Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) by Zeynep Unal.

I have been employed by LAPS for 27 years and have had the privilege of teaching at three of the five elementary schools. I feel like I cannot, in good conscience, remain quiet about this suit.

For obvious reasons, I cannot publish details regarding my issues and the knowledge I have, which is another reason I can’t sleep. Read More

Breaking News: Former Los Alamos Police Officers Receive $2 Million Settlement In Case Against County

by

BREAKING News:

Former Los Alamos Police Commander Randy Foster, former Commander Scott Mills and former Los Alamos Police Detective Paige Early have announced that on Feb. 4, 2016 they settled their claims against Los Alamos County for $2 million.

Settlement vindicates former Los Alamos Police Commander Randy Foster

According to a statement released from the Hemphill Firm: As part of the settlement the County rescinded Foster’s termination and offered the three Plaintiffs reinstatement to their former positions (which they declined).

Further, the County agreed to expunge discipline Read More