OTTAWA — Franklin County Clerk Shari Perry is threatening to sue the county. A consulting attorney for the county, Kevin Case, met with the county commissioners in this morning to discuss that case and another legal dispute. Much of the discussion was in executive session. Case said the county has received a letter from Perry’s attorney demanding $175,000 for what are called violations of the federal health privacy law. Case said he would investigate the allegations in the letter and report to the commission and to state regulators. No lawsuit has been filed yet, he said. In a second matter, Case said he has forwarded his findings involving an elected official to the attorney general’s office. He told commissioners that he investigated claims of violations of personnel rules. Because the matter involves an elected official, whom he didn’t identify, Case told commissioners he sent his findings to the attorney general. It would probably take several months before the attorney general’s office issues a formal response, he said. Case was hired by the county’s liability insurance company when the issue involving Perry and the demand letter. That will be paid by the insurance company. However, he had been hired by the county commission when a dispute involving Perry and the Franklin County EMS came up. In that matter, based on Case’s recommendation, county commissioners ordered Perry not to communicate with any ambulance employee except in writing and to forward any such written communications through county administrator Lisa Johnson. That investigation will be billed to taxpayers.
Wednesday, March 14, 3 p.m.
