KPHO 5 TV: “Maricopa County Supervisor Andrew Kunasek claims he was the victim of an extortion attempt at the hands of former county attorney Andrew Thomas and his deputy prosecutor” See the letter from Andy Kunasek in which he alleges wrong-doing by the form Maricopa County Attorney and one of his deputy [...]
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Arizona Republic reviews the budget-busting feuding between former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio on one side and Maricopa County judges, supervisors and other officials on the other side. To date, notices of claims for damages exceeding $56 million have been filed with Maricopa County by people who claim [...] Arizona Republic: “Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Lisa Aubuchon and her husband have filed a $10 million notice of claim against a slew of county officials, claiming the officials coordinated to smear her reputation and destroy her career.” Players in the Maricopa County infighting circus have now filed notices of claims in excess [...] Arizona Republic: “Maricopa County’s top prosecutor says sheriff’s Chief Deputy David Hendershott and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas obsessively pursued criminal cases against county officials despite a series of legal rebuffs including a rejection by a grand jury. . . . Interim County Attorney Rick Romley said grand-jury documents released publicly Thursday [...] Arizona Republic: “Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and a deputy county attorney planned a sweeping indictment against the five members of the county Board of Supervisors, two judges, county administrators, and their attorneys, Sheriff’s Office investigative records show.” Arizona Republic: “The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Supervisor Andy Kunasek and two other high-ranking county officials, accusing them of improperly spending public money on sweeps for illegal listening devices.” Arizona Republic: “Maricopa County Manager David Smith has forbidden county employees from talking with Chief Sheriff’s Deputy David Hendershott after a weekend missive Hendershott sent to the media threatening to divulge criminal investigations and grand jury testimony about county officials.” Arizona Republic: “Seven political activists claiming their civil rights were violated after they were arrested and cited for protesting against Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s immigration policies recently were awarded nearly $475,000 by Maricopa County,” Arizona Republic: “Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s attorneys filed another lawsuit against Maricopa County officials Thursday, alleging that administrators have conflicts of interest that prevent them from choosing attorneys for Arpaio. See also “Arpaio, Thomas: Don’t settle our lawsuits.” ABA Journal: “The Maricopa County, Ariz., Board of Supervisors is expected Wednesday to approve the hiring of uber-arbitrator Kenneth Feinberg to handle claims brought against the local government by high-level county managers, elected officials, judges and other employees who say they suffered harassment and abuse of power by the sheriff and former [...] Arizona Republic: “The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct has rejected ethics complaints filed against Maricopa County Superior Court judges by Chief Deputy Sheriff David Hendershott. Arizona Republic: “For two years, supervisors and other officials have complained about the high legal costs for Maricopa County tied to their internal power struggle. Now, some of those same people have filed legal notices asking for millions in damages because of the emotional stress caused by the political warfare.” Phoenix New Times: “It wasn’t enough . . . to file three felony charges against [Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Gary] Donahoe, despite a complete lack of evidence. . . . Last year, drunk on the conspiracy theory that all county officials were corrupt and that county judges were shielding them, Arpaio [...] Phoenix Business Journal: “Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox . . . . filed a notice of claim with the county saying she’ll sue the county and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office if doesn’t get a $4.75 million settlement.” Arizona Republic: “Maricopa County sheriff’s officials said Tuesday that financial sanctions imposed by the Board of Supervisors will affect public safety, and the office likely will challenge the moves in court.” Arizona Republic: “Maricopa County taxpayers paid about $71 million over the last five years to resolve claims lodged against county agencies and employees, and the county manager expects costs to mount as further complaints related to years-long legal battles and investigations among county officials continue.” The article lists 10 claims that exceeded [...] Phoenix Business Journal: “A Phoenix judge [Gary Donahoe] has filed a $4.75 million claim against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Attorney Andrew Thomas, alleging abuse of power and retaliation.” The infighting among Maricopa County officials continues unabated despite Maricopa County having a new County Attorney. Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio traded threatening letters. See the actual letters. Arizona Republic: “Maricopa County officials for the first time will limit fees paid to private attorneys hired to represent them. The new policy comes amid the war among county agencies that has cost taxpayers more than $3.1 million from 2008 through March.” The deadline for filing applications for the vacant Maricopa County Attorney office passed. Thirteen people submitted applications. The favorite are former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, attorney Andrew Pacheco, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery; and Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn. Arizona Republic: “The Gila County Board of Supervisors has approved a contract for a special prosecutor [Dennis "Dino" McCarthy] appointed to investigate whether to seek new indictments against Maricopa County Supervisors Don Stapley and Mary Rose Wilcox.” Arizona Republic: “A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Monday dismissed Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s attempt to take control of the department that provides health care to inmates. Arpaio last year sued the Board of Supervisors and county administrators, saying they mismanaged the agency and that he could do a better job.” More national attention Maricopa County does not need. The American Bar Association Journal has a lengthy story subtitled “An Arizona showdown over populous politics, abuse of power and pink boxer shorts.” The story is a complete history of the ongoing battle between former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe [...] Arizona Republic: “a major strategic blunder by Thomas: filing a federal civil-racketeering suit against a host of county officials and private attorneys that proved to be the undoing of everything else. The suit named a long list of alleged conspirators, including county management, the county Board of Supervisors, four Superior Court judges [...] Last year Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio purchased a $456,000 bus to move prisoners to and from court. Who would have guessed that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is not happy with the purchase? The Supervisors voted to sue the seller of the bus, Motor Coach Industries Inc., if the county [...] Arizona Republic: “Suits over investigations by Thomas, Arpaio may spur thorny questions. Maricopa County officials are preparing for an onslaught of legal attacks from their own employees that stem from investigations by County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Already, Supervisor Don Stapley filed a notice of claim with the county, [...] Arizona Republic: “Disputes among Maricopa County officials over the past year and a half have cost taxpayers at least $3.2 million, according to an Arizona Republic analysis.” Arizona Republic: “A Superior Court judge on Monday formally dismissed criminal charges against Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley, but refused to bar prosecutors from filing the same charges in the future.” Phoenix Business Journal: “Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Attorney Andrew Thomas have dropped a racketeering and conspiracy lawsuit against county administrators and Board of Supervisors.” |
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