Ronan hires outside legal help in class action suit
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RONAN – The City of Ronan has hired a Missoula law firm to handle a class action lawsuit filed against the town’s government and police department.
Jasper, Smith and Olsen law firm will represent the City in a class action federal suit filed June 3 against the town, its mayor, former police Chief Dan Wadsworth, former police officer Trevor Wadsworth, and several John Does.
Plaintiff Anthony Chaney alleges he and as many as 100 others could have been the victim of illegal arrest because the Ronan Police Department failed to properly train and certify officers. The suit seeks punitive damages against the City, which are capped by state law at $10 million. The cap is currently under dispute in Montana Supreme Court.
The July 7 decision to change legal counsel came amid rising legal charges from City Attorney Kathleen O’Rourke Mullins. Legal costs for June totaled $4,570. The total is more than 300 percent the $1,500 monthly retainer for which Mullins is contracted.
City officials said that pending litigation accounted for approximately half of the bill. The other half of the bill resulted from normal city business.
The city spent more than it budgeted on legal services for the fiscal year 2013-14, City Clerk Kaylene Melton told city councilmembers.
