Lawsuit Against Sheriff Gates

Re “County Agrees to Pay Lawsuit Against Gates” (April 3):

The article stated that this lawsuit accused Sheriff Brad Gates of using his office to harass his political opponents.

This case has cost the taxpayers $400,000, with an additional $200,000 necessary to complete the case. In spite of the time and money invested in this case, the county’s attorney and the Board of Supervisors decided to settle the case out of court. The plaintiff was paid $375,000.

Several statements make me tend to agree with the complainant when he said, “You don’t pay someone $375,000 when you’re right.”

In December of 1985 a federal magistrate said, “Gates may have bordered on overzealousness and the plaintiffs’ civil rights may have been violated.” In addition, Judge John Davies refused a request to throw out 14 major issues raised by the plaintiffs. But the assertion by the attorneys for Gates “that the county was not anxious to have the issues aired in public at a trial” is alarming and indicates to me that Sheriff Gates has misused the office the people have entrusted to him.

I am sure you will agree that there are many unanswered questions that should be addressed.

VICTORIA D. BARCLAY

Orange