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Claim filed by Womacks vs. countyThis article was originally published in the the Amador Ledger Dispatch on May 5, 1999, and is reproduced here with its permission. By Sean Barry JACKSON—The children of 'gastankgate' defendant Robert Womack this week filed a claim for damages against the county of Amador, saying the search of their Bosse Road property in January left the land in ruins and exceeded the scope of the warrant. The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, was received by the county late Monday afternoon. It wasn't on the Board of Supervisor's closed-session agenda for yesterday's meeting, so no discussion or action was taken. The claim seeks unspecified damages in excess of $10,000. It was filed by K.R.L. partnership, which is in the names of Robert Womack's children. The Amador County District Attorney's Office was involved in the January 27 search of Luke and Renee Womack's home on17560 Bosse Road, the old Bosse Ranch. Excavators were used to dig up the property, in a search for hazardous materials and paperwork, according to the warrant. The claim says the use of excavators destroyed a drainage culvert, severed electrical service to an outbuilding, and produced huge holes and mounds of dirt—none of which have been remedied by authorities. The claim also alleges that authorities searched a double-wide mobile home and other outbuildings, "in direct violation" of the warrant. Amador County Superior Court Judge Susan Harlan signed the warrant, based on an affidavit by Sacramento-based California Highway Patrol special investigator Russell Moore. Harlan hand-wrote on the warrant that the mobile home and other buildings were not to be searched. Moore is the only investigator identified on the warrant. The claim says Amador County DA investigator Ron Hall was present and "appeared to be directing the search operations." District Attorney Todd Riebe has called the Bosse Ranch operation a "stand-alone investigation"—unrelated to the infamous gas tank inquiry. But the Bosse search happened in the wake of the 21-count indictment against Robert Womack, alleging his illegal removal and transport of an old underground gas tank. Outspoken 'gastankgate' critic Rick Paul of Pine Grove has also filed a claim for damages against the county. Copyright © 1999 Amador Ledger Dispatch |
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