”
Supervisor Pat Loe is quoted as saying, ‘It’s too bad we are
spending money to defend a frivolous lawsuit with no merit.’ Pat
Loe is objecting to Judge Tobias’ ruling not to charge Attorney
Michael Pekin, who filed the case in court, for the county’s legal
expenses.
“Supervisor Pat Loe is quoted as saying, ‘It’s too bad we are spending money to defend a frivolous lawsuit with no merit.’ Pat Loe is objecting to Judge Tobias’ ruling not to charge Attorney Michael Pekin, who filed the case in court, for the county’s legal expenses. Why, Pat, did you hire another outside attorney other than Karen Forcum to defend John Sarsfield? Why not just use the county counsel as your sole attorney? Does Attorney Picone’s pay come out of Sarsfield’s budget or out of the General Fund? Why, once again, more attorneys with big fees and expectations the taxpayer or Pekin pay the expense? Does the county have all this extra money to keep hiring attorneys from all over the state to defend them?
There would have been no cost to the taxpayers of the county if you would have used the county counsel only. No sanctions would have been necessary. Pat Loe jumped on the bandwagon with this quote and is trying to make her case in the court of public opinion and squash a court case that may have merit. How can a ruling by Sarsfield on whether the civil lawsuit can go to court be nothing but a conflict of interest? The Board hired Picone to protect Sarsfield against the court case before Judge Tobias. I would say that puts Sarsfield in the pockets of the Board, and he owes them a favor such as ruling against Pekin’s case going to court. This is a total conflict of interest, and Sarsfield should recuse himself at once!
Since Loe is trying to prevent this case from going to court, it brings a question to mind: What is she trying to cover up? If she did nothing wrong, why wouldn’t she welcome the case in court? Does she have no respect for our judicial system? I question her quote of it being a frivolous lawsuit. A frivolous lawsuit, in my opinion, is where they try to collect money for an injustice. This case is not frivolous because Pekin is trying to protect the county money and pay it back to the county. He claims there is corruption by a Board member who has robbed the county. A frivolous lawsuit is to try to win money to enlarge your bank account. This case has been filed to get money back to the county and stop alleged illegal activities by an elected official. Therefore, the action the Board is taking to protect themselves is a conflict of interest and belongs in the court where the truth can be told.
John Picone, the county-hired attorney is quoted as saying, “the only evidence that Sarsfield had a relationship with Scagliotti is that they had lunch together.”
‘Big Clandestine Meeting!’ Let’s put this in a perspective we can all understand. Do you think the district attorney of Santa Barbara County would have lunch with Michael Jackson?
I, as a taxpayer of San Benito County, object to the way the supervisors are spending our money from the General Fund. We need better accountability from our supervisors, so when it’s time to vote, VOTE for a change on the Board.”
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