Lawsuit is costly
6-4
Pilot News Staff Report
PLYMOUTH � The Marshall County Commissioners have instructed county attorney Jim Clevenger to see if there is a less costly way out of the deputy overtime lawsuit.
On Monday the commissioners learned the county received an $18,000 bill from Fort Wayne attorney John Bowers, the lawyer handling the overtime dispute.
Clevenger said the bill appeared to be a little on the high side, but noted Bowers has done a great deal of legwork preparing for the lawsuit. Clevenger also noted Bowers� hourly rate is higher than his rate.
A number of Marshall County Sheriff�s Deputies filed the lawsuit in 1996. It became known as the deputies overtime lawsuit.
The issue that led to the legal action is the way deputy wages were paid from 1991 to 1995. Ed Criswell was the sheriff at the time.
A group of deputies claim they worked overtime hours each of those years, and were not compensated for their time.
Now the deputies are seeking the wages and damages. The deputies are represented by Rochester attorney Allen Burke.
The commissioners estimated the county has spent approximately $60,000 to date fighting the lawsuit and they are no closer to a settlement than they were in 1996. They are hoping Clevenger can pave the way for negotiations with Burke and the officers.
Clevenger will contact Burke to see if the deputies are interested in a sitdown meeting.
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