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Late last week, a Federal District Judge denied a motion to dismiss the case against Flathead County, County Prosecutor Travis Ahner, and several assistant prosecutors.
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(Kalispell, MT)- On October 10, Federal Judge Donald Malloy turned away attempts by Flathead County, County Prosecutor Travis Ahner, and several assistant prosecutors to dismiss the $50 million Malicious Prosecution case filed by local businessman Dennis Thornton.
In the complaint, Thornton alleges numerous violations against him in the ongoing attempt to steal his 500+ acre property in Somers, MT. The following counts were levied against the defense in the complaint:
- Count 1– Malicious Prosecution
- Count 2– Denial of Due Process
- Count 3– Deprivation of Property Without Just Cause
- Count 4– Conspiracy to Interfere with Civil Rights
- Count 5– False Official Certifications
You can read the original complaint by clicking here
Judge Malloy’s decision places Flathead County and the named employees in the difficult position of having to defend their actions, despite all the evidence in the case weighing against them.
You can read the Malloy decision by clicking here.
Going forward, Flathead County faces a choice: either settle the case with Thornton for a reduced amount, or risk a devastating loss. The case meets the criteria for treble damages, triple the assessed amount, which could leave taxpayers exposed to a $150 million liability if Thornton prevails.
Below is a short video breaking the decision down in greater detail.
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