Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Baker gets added to civil lawsuit & becomes the new City Attorney

In another strange twist for this city it was announce today that City Manager Baker will be leaving his post as City Manager and become the new City Attorney. Baker will be replacing City Attorney Henry Blinder who is retiring. Baker cited this as his reason,



"I am proud to have been a part of a great time in Durham's history
and to have worked with such a talented and dedicated group of employees," Baker said in a prepared statement.


"Serving as the city attorney is a great professional opportunity that will also allow me to spend much-needed time with my family." N&O


Considering that the City of Durham has been sued for 30 million dollars in the Duke Lacrosse Hoax it seemed like a strange excuse. Especially since it was announced that Baker was added as an individual to the Civil Lawsuit.


The lawyers representing the three exonerated lacrosse players amended the civil suit in federal court today to include City Manager Patrick Baker as one of the officials they are suing.

The players amended the lawsuit on the day Baker announced he would be stepping aside as city manager on June 30 to become city attorney, a job that comes with the same salary but less decision-making power.

As Baker met with reporters to discuss his plans to end a tumultuous three years as the city's manager, the lawyers for the exonerated lacrosse players filed their amended complaint in a Greensboro federal courthouse.

The new complaint portrays Baker as a city official who was very involved with decisions to push ahead with the Duke lacrosse case despite evidence to the contrary.
The lawsuit now details at least one meeting on March 29, 2006, where Baker was among high-ranking police officials and other city administrators and investigators assigned to the case.

According to the lawsuit, Sgt. Mark Gottlieb and investigator Benjamin Himan were summoned to a meeting on March 29 by Baker, Steve Chalmers, who was then the police chief, and other senior city and police officials.

At that meeting, the investigators were ordered or "otherwise pressured" to push ahead with a case that already had shown evidence of the players' innocence. N&O


So far in the Durham shake-up over the false prosecution of three totally innocent Duke Lacrosse players Cpl David Addison has been promoted to Sergeant, Former Chief of Police Steve Chalmers has been working as a special assistant to City Manger Baker while receiving his salary as Chief even though there is a new Chief in town so he can build up his pension benefits, and City Manager Baker who oversaw the PD activities in the Hoax is getting pay raise and deciding to take it easy as the City Attorney.



17 comments:

Anonymous said...

So Fong, it appears that you're the only one to take the hit. How does it feel, loser? Taking the bullet for Crystal and Company? Was it worth it? Would you do it all over again? Of course you would, because you're a Secret American Hero.

Anonymous said...

City Attorney named in the lawsuit against the city.

No conflict there? He would never advise the city to settle so he gets off scott free?

Anonymous said...

and the beat goes on ......


gaaaack

What CAN be done?

Anonymous said...

What's next for the very corrupt city?

1) Gottlieb gets appointed as head of District II
2) Judge Stephens get appointed to NC Supreme Court
3) NCCU hires Nifong as a Professor in the law school?

The lengths to which Durham is going to cover up their Nasty Secrets

Anonymous said...

this stunt might backfire on these losers

Anonymous said...

Too bad there isn't a tabloid magazine, that does nothing but report on false accusers and their enablers.

Anonymous said...

Too bad there isn't a tabloid magazine, that does nothing but report on false accusers and their enablers.

Is this the Duke Chronicle, perhaps?

Anonymous said...

So who is talking? Who is giving the lawyers the information they need to add Baker to the civil suit?

Anonymous said...

I would say this guy is going to be the backbreaker for Durham & Company.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=5830796

Anonymous said...

This places the blame for the case, where it belongs - Nifong, Upper Echelon Cops and Durham officials.

Anonymous said...

The blame for the case belongs with the individual who made the false statements, as well.

Anonymous said...

5:09 I agree, However,it is the job of LE to ferrett out the nuts and false claims. If Scheck's ammended filing is true - Gottlieb and Himan did that and were ordered by Superiors to "contine to persue the case in spite of evidence contratory to the claim". I think that puts the ball in DPD and Durrham leaders court -

Anonymous said...

It is like unto the wolf watching the hen's house.

Anonymous said...

Well, if you open the door for a burglar, and the burglar kills somebody, then you've just killed somebody.

Anonymous said...

No wonder the south lost the war, what a pathetic bunch of embiciles.

Anonymous said...

Next step is prezident

Anonymous said...

There is so much more to come out of Durham than the LAX case. The entire legal system is broken, the cops are thugs and worse than you can imagine. Countless elected officials from the Governor, down to the City Manager, to the County Clerk are involved. Many fingers have dipped into Durham's cookie jar, and the truth will be extremely explosive to many who have turned their backs on citizens, justice, and any code of ethics or valor. Embrace yourselves for an extreme shock. A tidal wave of truth will boggle your mind, the corruption SHALL be exposed!