City Will Battle Gypsy Suit Alone
The city of Spokane grabbed the financial football for the Marks family lawsuit and will carry it alone.
A 6-1 vote of the council Monday leaves the city with sole responsibility for fighting the $40 million suit.
An agreement with county commissioners calls for the county to pay the city $390,000. In return, the city will assume all liability and defense costs for the civil rights suit.
“It enables them to save money. It enables us to gain cash,” said Councilman Joel Crosby, who played a key role in negotiating the agreement.
“It’s a thoughtful response to this issue, and it’s in the best interest of citizens.”
Commissioners plan to vote on the issue tonight, but officials already have said they are eager to get away from the lawsuit.
Councilman Chris Anderson cast the lone “no” vote, saying “Frankly, it’s a super deal for the county and its taxpayers. But as a City Council member, I’m not sure this is a righteous agreement for the city taxpayers.”
Jimmy Marks told the council he didn’t care who he fought in court. “The money is still the same,” he said. “I’m not prejudiced whether I take it from the city or the county.”
The council’s efforts to take full control of the lawsuit comes on the heels of moves by the county to settle the suit.
The legal battle between the Marks family and the city and county began in 1986, when police investigating a fencing operation searched the homes of Jimmy and Grover Marks. Officers confiscated $1.6 million in cash and as much as $500,000 in jewelry and silverware, some of it identified by an informant as stolen.
A judge ruled the raids were illegal. Jimmy Marks, Grover Marks, the Gypsy Church and 26 of its members then filed the $40 million civil rights suit.
The suit remains in U.S. District Court, and the next hearing is set for Oct. 16 in Seattle. A trial may still be years away.
The city will use the county’s money to help defend itself against the lawsuit.
If the city loses to the Marks family, money to pay damages and legal fees would come from the city’s general liability fund, which holds a little more than $2 million.
, DataTimes