(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County government attorney is being asked to resign.  The request is being made by La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney and La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz.  Both men were elected in November.

 

Stabosz has accused Friedman of having control of county government and influencing decisions to benefit his legal practice financially.  In response, Friedman is suing Stabosz claiming defamation of character.

 

Stabosz has also alleged some of Friedman’s legal decisions have hurt the county.  During last night’s La Porte County Council meeting, county treasurer Joie Winski defended Friedman.  “I can say with confidence there are only a handful of attorneys in La Porte County that have the skills necessary to represent municipal government and Mr. Friedman is one of them.  It takes a special skill set to represent and defend county and city governments. To ask Mr. Friedman to resign is ridiculous.  This ongoing battle is purely personal,” she said.

 

Stabosz has also outlined his allegations against Friedman in e-mails sent to county employees.  Winski said the actions of Stabosz are having a very negative impact.  "Most of you know that I have been involved with county and city government for over 35 years and never, and I repeat, never have I witnessed such a debacle as this.  I am embarrassed for all of us.  Yes, all of us.  The notoriety this has brought to our county is not the kind of recognition that we want or that we need.  This has now affected almost every employee thanks to Mr. Stabosz’ email to all users,” she said.

 

Friedman is seeking unspecified damages against Stabosz in his lawsuit filed earlier this month.  Stabosz is also calling for Friedman to be fired as county attorney by the commissioners, alleging Friedman was behind Haney being reappointed to positions within county government and insulting Haney in his explanation behind the moves.

 

“Shaw Friedman should be fired when he sat at a commissioner meeting several weeks ago and demeaned and degraded Commissioner Haney by saying Commissioner Mrozinski has been involved in redevelopment for 13-years and you have been on the council for 13 days.  How dare he open his mouth and degrade one of his three bosses.  He’s just a hired help and it shows that he doesn’t know his proper place,” Stabosz said.