Sean C. Morgan
A lawsuit against the City of Sweet Home and Police Chief Bob Burford by a former police officer was dismissed.
Derik Ford, a probationary police officer with Sweet Home Police Department, filed the lawsuit on May 21, 2003 after Chief Burford fired him.
The lawsuit alleged a variety of offenses that prevented Ford from going to work for another police department.
Ford accused the city and Chief Burford of disgracing and defaming Ford, publicly discrediting him and causing the public to hold Ford in contempt in ridicule, and they “published reports to prospective employers ? that Ford had been terminated for making false statements, for cheating, stealing and lying, all of which were false, malicious and defamatory, (attributing) to Ford want of skill and integrity, lack of business judgment, dishonesty and collusion.”
Ford also claimed he was discharged for arbitrarily personal reasons.
He sought a minimum of $300,000 with additional punitive damages to be determined by jury.
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken dismissed the case on Jan. 5.
The city was represented through its insurance carrier by Hoffman, Hart and Wagner of Portland.
Prior to the judge’s ruling, Police Chief Burford said, Ford’s attorney had agreed to request a full dismissal “with prejudice, which means it can never be reinstated.
“The dismissal in essence means that Ford could show no legitimate basis for the allegations made in his complaint,” Chief Burford said. “Though not surprised, I’m pleased that the court threw out the case. We’ll continue to take the steps necessary to hire and retain the best people possible to serve the citizens of Sweet Home.”