PANEL BACKS SETTLING SUIT BY EX-SHERIFF'S CLERK.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer A former Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Sheriff's Station clerk who said she was harassed after her estranged es·trange tr.v. es·tranged, es·trang·ing, es·trang·es 1. To make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate. 2. To remove from an accustomed place or set of associations. husband filed a brutality Brutality See also Cruelty, Mutilation. Black Prince angered by Limoges’ resistance, massacred three hundred inhabitants (1370). [Eur. Hist.: Bishop, 75] Caracalla Roman emperor (211–217) massacred many thousands [Rom. claim against deputies stands to receive a $150,000 settlement from Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. The Los Angeles County Claims Board has recommended paying $150,000 to Virginia Nichols to settle her federal lawsuit against the county. ``It's for economic reasons we make settlements,'' said Nancy Singer, claims board chairwoman. ``You never know what the jury is going to do. . . . It just makes sense to settle than to go the course of the trial.'' Attorneys for the county concluded that a federal jury was likely to award $410,000, plus $75,000 to $100,000 in attorney's fees attorney's fee n. the payment for legal services. It can take several forms: 1) hourly charge, 2) flat fee for the performance of a particular service (like $250 to write a will), 3) contingent fee (such as one-third of the gross recovery, and nothing if there is no , to Nichols, who was transferred to the Palmdale sheriff's station and given a five-day suspension under suspicion that she had provided information to help her estranged husband's brutality case. Daniel Nichols had filed a suit claiming that deputies used unnecessary force in arresting him for an assault on his estranged wife. He was awarded $20,000 after a March 1993 jury trial in which Virginia Nichols testified on his behalf, county officials said. Virginia Nichols quit her job in February 1994 after a psychiatrist advised her to resign because of the stress she was under, county documents said. ``We believe the evidence will show that Virginia Nichols' involvement in her estranged husband's case against the county was not well received by the personnel at the Antelope Valley Sheriff's Station,'' the law firm of Dwyer, Daly, Brotzen and Bruno said in a memorandum to the claim board. ``A jury is likely to believe that Virginia Nichols was the subject of retaliation RETALIATION. The act by which a nation or individual treats another in the same manner that the latter has treated them. For example, if a nation should lay a very heavy tariff on American goods, the United States would be justified in return in laying heavy duties on the manufactures and as a result thereof,'' the memo said. The claims board recommended last week that the county pay Nichols, but the recommendation requires approval from county supervisors. They are expected to vote on the matter Nov. 5. An additional $100,000 has been paid by the former attorney for the county, whose report to sheriff's officials initiated the department's actions against Virginia Nichols, documents show. The attorney's law firm has been terminated by the county. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. county officials, an internal sheriff's investigation did not substantiate To establish the existence or truth of a particular fact through the use of competent evidence; to verify. For example, an Eyewitness might be called by a party to a lawsuit to substantiate that party's testimony. allegations that Nichols improperly obtained information about the department and provided it to her estranged husband's attorney. But Antelope Valley station Capt. Tony Welch disagreed and ordered the five-day suspension. The suspension was later overturned by a department commander, and she was transferred back to the Antelope Valley station, documents show. But Nichols said she was still shunned. |
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