U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow Kills a Biker, Taxpayers Responsible

I'm posting this in forum news because I think everyone should see this and I want it high profile. This is a horrible story with an unbelievable ending. Everyone should take the time to write letter's to their Congressmen and Senators telling them you think this is an injustice.


There's one more twist in the case of former U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow of South Dakota, convicted in December of felony manslaughter for causing a collision in which a motorcyclist died. After escaping with just 100 days in jail out of a potential sentence of up to 11 years, Janklow will now get virtual immunity from any civil damages resulting from the crash.

U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger has ruled that Janklow was "acting within the scope of his federal employment" last August when he drove through a stop sign at a speed of over 70 mph, causing the crash that killed Randolph Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minnesota. As a result, says Heffelfinger, Janklow cannot be held personally responsible for the crash, and any damages must be paid by taxpayers.


More... (http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2004/Janklow_civil.asp)

Folks if this was you or me we'd be in a cell already being pumped light. Everyone needs to be outraged over this!

Wow Smeg! It's the same everywhere though..as long as you're in the "higher ups" apparently you're safe from the long arm of the law and no need to worry about getting what you deserve. :( Good luck on the letter writing and hope they get that bill passed.

U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger has ruled that Janklow was "acting within the scope of his federal employment" last August when he drove through a stop sign at a speed of over 70 mph, causing the crash that killed Randolph Scott, 55, of Hardwick, Minnesota.
WTF? ...I fail to understand how one acts within the scope of one's job by running a stop sign at more than 70mph. Hell even emergency vehicles must slow at an intersection before proceeding. This is indeed BULLSHIT :pissed:

WTF? ...I fail to understand how one acts within the scope of one's job by running a stop sign at more than 70mph. Hell even emergency vehicles must slow at an intersection before proceeding. This is indeed BULLSHIT :pissed:
He was acting in the "scope" of his job because he was attending political functions that day.
Vehicular Manslaughter occurs every day due to inattentive or reckless driving. The fact that he killed a motorcyclist just brings this case much closer to home. Janklow served about the average or greater time, 100 days, then the average person would serve when drugs or alcohol were not involved.

Attending political functions my ass, he was going to a fundraiser for an election campaign. I am sick and tired of celebrities and political officials getting off scto free when, if you or I did something like this, we would be put under the jail.

Attending political functions my ass, he was going to a fundraiser for an election campaign. I am sick and tired of celebrities and political officials getting off scto free when, if you or I did something like this, we would be put under the jail.
I'm certainly not defending Janklow and couldn't really give a rats ass about him.
I was just pointing out the VM occurs every day and if drugs and alcohol are not involved almost no one does any serious jail time.

liz if you read this call me asap ..

Alton

H.S.A.1.A
386-212-2630

This story is 2yrs old. Has anything happened in the courts since then?

This story is 2yrs old. Has anything happened in the courts since then?
The Supreme Court gave him his Law License back. :(

The Supreme Court gave him his Law License back. :(

:( .... that sucks!!

If I get a DUI, I lose my teaching certification. And that's even if I DON'T hurt or kill anyone.

My first thought was that someone needs to break this ass-holes arms and legs. However that would just outrage the general public and put bikers back into the wrong catagory. With that said I'd still like to see him broke into little pieces.

It's a weird deal, the family, of the victim, originally sued Janklow but it was determined he was on "official" business and couldn't be sued.
Now the family is suing the Gov. for $25 million.
"Scott's family initially sued Janklow in Minnesota state court. But it was determined that since Janklow was on official business, he was protected from any monetary claims by the Federal Tort Claims Act. The law safeguards on-duty federal employees from negligence claims."

Bush, Rumsfeld, all the lame duck congress are taking thier "thumping" too easily. For his whineing Jankalow got his law license back. And the nasty bird that set them free got his big fat retirement! It should be NO retirement for dishonerable discharge!

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Tom+Heffelfinger