Dearborn Stuck with awards Against Judge Somers?
Earlier this summer, former Dearborn Charter Commissioner Raymond Trudeau came before the Dearborn City Council to ask questions about Judge Mark Somers and the more than $1.1 million in damages against him from two lawsuits that the city could end up writing a check for.
In his confrontational style of question asking, Trudeau wanted answers to two questions: would the city would have to pay $1.1 million for the jury awards and why Dearborn didn’t settle these two civil lawsuits for a fraction of the cost rather than going to trial.
City leaders said Dearborn wasn’t responsible for those jury awards.
That appears not to be the case now.
The Michigan Court of Appeals late last week denied an appeal hearing made by the attorney general’s office to throw out the award of $463,820 to Simone Calvas, a former probation officer at the district court in Dearborn.
This means the city of Dearborn could be forced to write the check for the entire amount. It is worth noting that the Appeals Court denied the motion because the attorney general’s office was late in filing the appeal within the required 21 day window from when the jury award was made. Kind of makes you wonder if the State should pay for the entire amount for being late with its appeal request.
The Calvas award is one of two that separate juries in two different civil trials awarded to two former District Court employees in Dearborn over claims they were fired by Judge Somers in violation of Michigan law. The second award was for $732,000 to Julie Pucci, a former deputy court administrator.
At that council meeting Trudeau attended in July, he never received an answer on why the city didn’t consider settling with Ms. Pucci. According to Trudeau, Pucci would have settled for less than $50,000. One city council member told Deepsaidwhat.com that Judge Somers was asked to consider settling the suit on several occasions but he declined.
September 24th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
The verdicts were based on the evidence.
Judge Somers was acting within the scope of his authority when he made the decision to eliminate jobs.
Unfortunately two juries have determined that Judge Somers did so in violation of civil rights laws, and awarded substantial damages. Another case is pending.
The City is obligated to pay those damages under Michigan law.
The failure to settle these cases can’t be explained easily.
Let’s learn our lesson after two losses, and settle everything on best terms and be done with it.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Just goes to show u how much our legal dept., headed by Miss Debbie W. and Mr. Haney (our mayor) actually know, they kept insisting that the State would be responsible, when in fact they knew they were lying. In essence that is the way our current administration operates, lie, and keep on lyinng, until we can do something about it, or get caught. Well u got caught, now u hope that the Nov. election will bail u out, well Mr. Haney O’Reilly your buddy Somers got u, and the people will get u in Nov. by turning out at the polls and voting down everything u want, and need. Stick by all your yes men and women, and they will find out what a big zero u actually are. You are simply are a loser and your yes men and women follow, because they fear 4 their jobs. Too bad the residents will have to pay for your mistake and Somers’ but to get rid of both of u believe me its well worth it.
September 25th, 2011 at 7:49 am
Tdogg nice explanation, however the Big Boy doesn’t listen too well, maybe this will cause his demise — lets hope so. He is nothing but a bulley, and the best thing we can do for him, is get him out of office, or take his food supply away, he and his boy Pee Wee Somers are 2 power hungery losers. Vote everything down when u vote in November, or else it will be more of the same, from these 2 idiots.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:46 am
Ms. Calvas and Ms. Pucci deserve to get what they have coming and so do Bluto and Erkel look-alike Somers. Pay the girls and get rid of the other two creeps.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:48 am
ROFL….at the thought that Ms. Pucci ever was going to settle her case for less than $50,000. Funny how that came out AFTER the braindead Wayne County jury decided to award her more than 10x that amount. But let’s look on the bright side. if we taxpayers are stuck with her bill, maybe she’ll invite us to her long-awaited wedding…
September 25th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Benito I hate to admit it, but u are absolutely right. We could have settled these lawsuits, for a much cheaper cost, however the Einsteins at City Hall led by the wannabe lawyer (who never presented a case in court), is going to lead this City with his stroker of a friend Somers to the poor house. Help everyone out, and simply get out of the Dbn.residents lives — throw in the towel both of you Einsteins.
September 27th, 2011 at 7:48 am
Mr. Leavens we know who you are, and even though I agree with you the Einsteins running this City and the Courts, are ruining our living environment in Dearborn, we should be getting our neighbors to vote the bums out. You could see a couple of weeks back, at O’Reilly’s fundraiser how few people he has in his corner, I hope someone steps up and takes a real run at him, and I for one am planning to take a run at the other one in the Courts.
September 27th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Ray Trudeau was treated like aan uninformed chump at the Council meeting, but he was right, and I personally don’t think that the Big Fella has been honest with the City Council, but they just roll over and go along. These cases should have been settled out of court long ago, but the Bulley had to stick up for his weasel buddy, now look what we are facing.
October 2nd, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Thought McCheese was the Mayor. Haney was smarter and better looking. Summers does resemble the Hamburglar though.
Mayor’s not up for election this time but he does want to raise your taxes Send a message. NO millage. NO more property taxes. No more incompetence.
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Another loss today for Somers. I read in the paper that his appeal on one of the girls lawsuit was denied. Better go in conference with your big guardian angel Fat Boy, because you are going to need his useless help, annd guidance as useless as it is.