Posted on 01/21/2004 11:12:10 AM PST by martin_fierro
Ex-Rep. Janklow Faces Wrongful-Death Suit
By CARSON WALKER, Associated Press Writer
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The family of a motorcyclist killed in a collision with a car driven by Bill Janklow has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the former South Dakota congressman.
AP Photo
Janklow, who resigned from Congress on Tuesday, was served with papers at the Minneapolis airport on his way from Washington to Sioux Falls, said Ronald Meshbesher, a lawyer for the family of Randy Scott.
Janklow was convicted last month of speeding, running a stop sign, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter in the Aug. 16 death of Scott at a rural intersection near Trent.
The lawsuit contends Janklow drove "carelessly, negligently and recklessly with conscious and unjustifiable disregard of a substantial risk" when he ran a stop sign and drove into the path of a motorcycle driven by Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minn.
Scott's family seeks more than $50,000 in damages although the lawsuit doesn't name a specific amount. The lawsuit was filed Friday in Minneapolis on behalf of Scott's mother, two children and a sister.
Janklow's lawyer, Ed Evans of Sioux Falls, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
Janklow, a four-term Republican governor of South Dakota, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday. The judge's discretion on the four convictions ranges from no time behind bars and no fines up to a total of 10 years in prison, 14 months in jail and $11,400 in fines.
U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow, R-S.D. enters the Moody County Courthouse during his manslaughter trial in Flandreau, S.D. in this Dec. 2, 2003 file photo. Janklow has resigned from Congress effective Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 after he was convicted for manslaughter, reckless driving, speeding and running a stop sign in an Aug. 16 accident that killed a motorcyclist. (AP Photo/Doug Dreyer, File)
 |
FReeper Motorcycle Hooligan  |
| Send FReepmail if you want on/off FMH list | |
But if he were a liberal Senator from Massachusetts he'd not only be praised, he’d be reelected with glee.
There's justice for ya!
Ayup. But, to keep it in perspective, the Kennedy family paid an undisclosed sum to the Kopechne family for the death of Mary Jo. Part of the deal was an agreement to not sue for wrongful death.
The best justice money can buy.
"He is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday."
I don't understand. I thought if you were pronounced guilty of something like manslaughter in a court of law, you went straight to jail?
You mean he's still out there driving around speeding and running stop signs?
i agree... he deserves it--the arrogant jerk...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.