County commissioners cut a check to a former employee who accused the county coroner of interfering with the autopsy of a political ally’s brother.
The 9Wants to Know investigators reported that former deputy coroner Robert Montgomery and his attorneys will split $196,560.
The settlement was approved by Douglas County Commissioners on Sunday.
Montgomery sued in 2008, saying he was fired after he expressed concerns about coroner Wes Riber’s handling of the autopsy of Jack Acree.
Jack Acree, who died in 2006, was the brother of former Douglas County Sheriff Michael Acree, who ran with Riber for county office.
Montgomery said Riber ignored suicide notes and the presence of a drug in Jack Acree’s system. Riber ruled Acree’s death was from natural causes.
The lawsuit also alleged that Riber and chief deputy coroner Patricia Dunn were improperly profiting from autopsies provided at reduced cost to rural counties.
Montgomery asserted that Riber and Dunn were working as assistants to the pathologist on those cases and collecting a fee for their work. Montgomery suggested a conflict of interest was present because Riber and Dunn had negotiated the county’s contract for the out-of-county autopsies.
A copy of the settlement agreement provided by Douglas County indicated the deal prohibits Montgomery or his attorneys from commenting on the arrangement.
Douglas County maintains the fees paid to Riber and Dunn were separate from county business.
County Attorney Lance Ingalls called the county’s settlement offer “a pure business decision.”
“We liked our case, but Mr. Montgomery certainly liked his case and it was all going to come down to the decision of a jury,” said Ingalls.
“There was going to be a winner, there was going to be a loser, and either one was going to cost the county money.”
Ingalls said he did not expect the county’s insurance rate to increase as a result, saying the insurance company was happy with the settlement.
The county attorney said Riber was, and still is, the final authority on the disputed autopsy.
“The coroner and the pathologist were very comfortable with that, and remain comfortable with that, and I don’t think would change a thing,” said Ingalls.
