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Judge Tosses GOP Claim in Eavesdrop Case


— October 16, 2005

RICHMOND, Va. — A federal judge dismissed the state Republican Party’s effort to get its former insurer to cover nearly $1 million the party paid to settle a lawsuit over a political eavesdropping scandal.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal wrote in a 17-page opinion that Union Insurance Co. was not obliged to cover damages arising from crimes GOP officers committed to benefit the party.

In December, the party paid 34 Democratic legislators $750,000 to settle a federal complaint alleging the GOP violated their privacy rights by spying on two conference call discussions of legal strategy in 2002.

The state GOP asked that Union Insurance reimburse it for $200,000 in legal bills in addition to the settlement payment.

Details here from the AP via the Seatle Post-Intelligencer.


RICHMOND, Va. — A federal judge dismissed the state Republican Party’s effort to get its former insurer to cover nearly $1 million the party paid to settle a lawsuit over a political eavesdropping scandal.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal wrote in a 17-page opinion that Union Insurance Co. was not obliged to cover damages arising from crimes GOP officers committed to benefit the party.

In December, the party paid 34 Democratic legislators $750,000 to settle a federal complaint alleging the GOP violated their privacy rights by spying on two conference call discussions of legal strategy in 2002.

The state GOP asked that Union Insurance reimburse it for $200,000 in legal bills in addition to the settlement payment.

Details here from the AP via the Seatle Post-Intelligencer.

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