Douglas County’s former assistant chief deputy coroner has filed suit claiming he was fired because he spoke about a possible coverup involving the death of a former sheriff’s brother and financial impropriety.
Robert Montgomery filed the lawsuit late Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Denver against the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and county coroner Wes Riber.
“Mr. Montgomery was fired because he spoke out on matters of public concern, including his opposition to the possible cover-up by defendant and county coroner Wesley Riber, of the suicide of a political ally’s brother, as well as Riber’s abuse of his position for personal financial gain,” the suit says.
Riber’s attorney, Tom Rice, said the lawsuit is without merit.
“The whole premise of the lawsuit is just false,” Rice said. “The idea that he was fired for speaking out is simply wrong.”
Rice said he could not discuss the reason for Montgomery’s May 29 dismissal because it is a personnel matter.
Montgomery’s lawsuit says Riber ruled the Oct. 23, 2006, death of Jack Acree a natural death despite a drug that was in his system and suicide notes left by Acree. Jack Acree was the brother of former Sheriff Michael Aree.
The suit also says that Riber and chief deputy coroner Patricia Dunn were accepting money for work as assistants from a pathologist who was under contract to perform out-of-county autopsies.
“The practice created the appearance that she and Riber were using their positions to benefit themselves financially, as they were the principal negotiators of the Douglas County contract for the pathologist,” the suit says.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
