DKSuddeth
Senior Member
Drunk congressman not liable for deaths while on duty
Court: drunk Congressman 'on duty,' immune
RAPID CITY, S.D., July 14 (UPI) -- A federal judge in South Dakota said a drunk former Congressman who killed a motorcyclist in a wreck was on duty and so not liable for civil damages.
U.S. Magistrate Arthur Boylan's ruling means that any damages that may be awarded to the estate of the motorcyclist will come from taxpayers -- not former Rep. Bill Janklow, the Sioux Falls Argus reported Wednesday.
The family of motorcyclist Randy Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minn., filed a lawsuit in the Aug. 16 death, and Boylan's Tuesday ruling means the federal government, not Janklow, must be listed as the defendant.
The family plans an appeal.
Janklow, who was elected to Congress in 2002 after serving 16 years as governor, spent 100 days in jail after being convicted of speeding, running a stop sign, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter.
Court: drunk Congressman 'on duty,' immune
RAPID CITY, S.D., July 14 (UPI) -- A federal judge in South Dakota said a drunk former Congressman who killed a motorcyclist in a wreck was on duty and so not liable for civil damages.
U.S. Magistrate Arthur Boylan's ruling means that any damages that may be awarded to the estate of the motorcyclist will come from taxpayers -- not former Rep. Bill Janklow, the Sioux Falls Argus reported Wednesday.
The family of motorcyclist Randy Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minn., filed a lawsuit in the Aug. 16 death, and Boylan's Tuesday ruling means the federal government, not Janklow, must be listed as the defendant.
The family plans an appeal.
Janklow, who was elected to Congress in 2002 after serving 16 years as governor, spent 100 days in jail after being convicted of speeding, running a stop sign, reckless driving and second-degree manslaughter.