Get this one: Taxpayers Would Pay in Janklow Lawsuit

[Bluebear]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A judge ruled Tuesday that former Rep. Bill Janklow was on duty when he caused a deadly traffic accident, meaning taxpayers would have to pay for any civil damages in a wrongful-death lawsuit.

U.S. Magistrate Arthur Boylan sided with a federal prosecutor's conclusion that Janklow, 64, was on official business Aug. 16, 2003, when he sped through a stop sign on a rural road and collided with motorcyclist Randy Scott.

Janklow had appointments or appearances over two days around the state and was on his way home when the accident occurred. Boylan concluded that Janklow did not stop at his mother's home in nearby Flandreau minutes before the accident.

"Even assuming he had stopped to visit his mother ... the diversion would have been inconsequential in this instance," Boylan wrote.

more...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=5&u=/ap/20040714/ap_on_re_us/janklow_lawsuit

[Robbien]

1. But since he was commiting a crime (drunk driving)

the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay. Right?