Letters

District attorney's offices across the country bring and often drop and reduce charges. It is unheard of for a DA's office to issue an apology and then pay the ex-defendant after charges have been dropped. The payment by the DA's office speaks volumes as to why the case was dropped. A DA cannot be sued for charges that he brings lawfully. This is called sovereign immunity. In this case, the DA lost his sovereign immunity. All the evidence collected may have been tainted, and the DA's office was open to a lawsuit which could cost the taxpayers millions. The $75,000 payment to the Quigleys was the only economical way out.

This does not change why the initial twelve felony charges were brought against the Quigleys. Do Westword reporters actually believe that the evidence amassed against the Quigleys was completely innocuous? Come on--twelve felonies!

The Quigleys have not been exonerated. The Quigleys were not paid because they were found innocent of the charges that were filed against them. They were paid because the DA may have broken the law while collecting the evidence.

J.L. Franks
Denver

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