County counsel Jeffrey Blanck and the county of Humboldt have been told to find a way to settle their differences by a federal judge, who also blocked the board of supervisors from meeting to consider the status of his employment, the Times-Standard reports. According to the story, Blanck — who filed legal action against the […]
Jeffrey Blanck
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County Counsel Suit Alleges Conspiracy in Legal Billings; Supes Approve $1.4M in Retro Payments, New Contract with Law Firm
The county’s head attorney has filed a civil lawsuit against two fellow top administrators, an outside attorney and her Bay Area-based law firm alleging they conspired against him when he tried to expose excessive billing practices. According to Jefferey Blanck’s lawsuit, bills from Liebert Cassidy Whitmore “increased three-fold” from 2016 to 2018 — from $137,000 to […]
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County Counsel Files Claim Alleging Retaliation
The county of Humboldt’s lead attorney Jeffrey Blanck filed a claim for damages April 4 alleging he was placed on paid administrative leave after raising concerns about an outside law firm’s contract and that the board of supervisors violated open meeting laws by not reporting its action out of closed session. Video of the March […]
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County Counsel Files Claim After Being Placed on Paid Leave
The county of Humboldt’s lead attorney Jeffrey Blanck filed a claim for damages this week alleging the board of supervisors placed him on paid administrative leave after he raised concerns about an outside law firm’s contract and then violated open meeting law by not reporting the board’s action out of closed session. Nearly three weeks […]
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Board of Supervisors Prepares for Auditor Controller Do-Over, Public Defender Appointment
UPDATE: On April 24 the board voted unanimously to appoint Dillingham to the postion. Previously: The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will consider Tuesday appointing Cheryl Dillingham as interim auditor-controller. Again. The board voted unanimously at its April 3 meeting to appoint Dillingham to the post. But the item on the board’s agenda that day […]
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Supes to Consider Public Defender’s $25K Severance Agreement
When the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors convenes tomorrow, it will discuss whether to approve a severance agreement for former Public Defender David Marcus that has already been executed and can’t legally be ratified. The severance agreement, which followed Marcus’ Nov. 22 resignation after nine embattled months on the job and pays him about $25,000, […]
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Griego to Dismiss Public Defender Suit
Local attorney Patrik Griego announced this morning that he will be dismissing the lawsuit he brought challenging David Marcus’ appointment as Humboldt County public defender in light of Marcus’ resignation. In the short release (copied below), Griego notes that his lawsuit was challenging whether Marcus met minimum state qualifications for the job when the Humboldt […]
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Uncertainty Surrounds Monday’s Public Defender Hearing
The lawsuit challenging embattled Humboldt County Public Defender David Marcus’ hiring is bound for a hearing Monday but it’s hard to say what to expect. It could be the decisive moment in the 9-month-old lawsuit, an evidentiary hearing on the merits that ultimately answers whether Marcus meets minimum state qualifications for the post. Or the […]
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Judge Gives Attorney 30 Days to Refile Public Defender Lawsuit
A judge today dismissed a lawsuit alleging the county’s public defender did not meet minimum qualifications required for the post, but gave local attorney Patrik Griego 30 days to refile, saying he should have more information about his contention after questioning David Marcus under oath during an upcoming deposition. The lawsuit seeking to block Marcus’ […]
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Claim Seeks $1.44M From County in Right-to-Die Case
Years before Dick Magney was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital suffering from a series of life-threatening conditions, he had spent time at a local nursing home while recovering from leg surgery. That experience left the former truck driver who for decades battled constant pain and chronic illness determined to never again find himself in the […]
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The Carrot and the Stick
By law enforcement estimates, there are about 10,000 marijuana farms in Humboldt County. About 2,300 of them have applied for the county permits needed to legitimize under local and state laws. Of those, about 400 have gone through the required permitting process by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Of those, about 200 are […]
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Settlement Next Step in Magney End-of-Life Care Case
A scathing appellate ruling that found officials with the county of Humboldt overstepped their bounds and misrepresented evidence to the court when they interfered in a Carlotta couple’s end-of-life medical decisions became final yesterday. That sets the stage for attorney Allison Jackson, who represented Dick and Judy Magney in the case, to begin settlement talks […]