Alderdice’s ‘research’ not fact
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Editor,
Diane Alderdice’s letter about my “lawsuits” was her unfortunate choice of attacking a candidate, instead of promoting one.
Her letter lacked content and credibility. She can’t be indulged as innocently and ignorantly perpetuating rumors, because she purports to have done research, which she obviously hasn’t.
I never “sued” the City for personal gain. I filed “human rights complaints” about actions of City officials, who can’t be sued individually.
None of my cases were “thrown out” for being “frivolous.” I argued my cases myself, often in more than one concurrently and often against two attorneys at a time, hired by the City’s insurer (MMIA). I had to pick my battles and was able to fully pursue only three cases.
I spent several thousand dollars of my limited funds and incalculable amount of my time, in a six-year long and lonely struggle to attain the Montana Supreme Court. At a time when I was grieving for both my mother and my cat, I accepted the City’s offer to a non-monetary settlement.
Apparently, Alderdice can’t appreciate how much courage and endurance it takes for an unprivileged citizen to seek justice against government violations of our civil rights. Instead, she substitutes her “feelings” and opinions for facts, in trying to nullify my accomplishments by claiming that my “lawsuits” cost more than what I saved taxpayers, conveniently avoiding to offer any numbers.
My complaints were in response to violations of my human rights and didn’t cost the City anything directly. How generously MMIA (an unregulated special insurance pool) chose to pay for expensive attorneys wasn’t my decision either. I share the concern about not wasting tax dollars. However, government officials can’t be allowed to act above the law and litigation sometimes becomes unavoidable as a form of law enforcement that comes at a cost. The best prevention may be to elect more responsible City officials in the future.
If elected as Ward 2 Commissioner, I’ll do all I can to make not only my supporters but also my opponents, including Alderdice, proud of me.
Murat Kalinyaprak
Polson
