A judge has ordered the appointment of a special prosecutor
to investigate an $80,000 wire transfer from a nursing home owner to a
former state senator's construction company — money that allegedly moved
just days after the lawmaker introduced an amendment to limit
negligence claims in Arkansas.
Sebastian County Prosecutor Dan Shue asked for an outside
investigator to avoid any potential conflict of interest. The
Times-Record also reported that Shue has asked the local U.S. Attorney
to determine whether the wire transfer violated any federal law.
Jake Files (R), the one-time Fort Smith lawmaker at the
center of the case, pleaded guilty in January to unrelated charges and
is scheduled to be sentenced June 18. He faces counts of wire fraud,
bank fraud and money laundering in relation to improper use of state
improvement funds intended for a local sports complex.
The Times Record first discovered the 2014 nursing-home related transfer in civil court documents last year.
The money came from David Norsworthy, part owner in a dozen
Arkansas nursing homes. It followed on the heels of a constitutional
amendment that sought to limit damage lawsuits — like negligence claims
commonly pursued against nursing homes — to $500,000.
That amendment failed then, but it found new life in the current session, before Files resigned in January.
Neither Files nor Norsworthy have explained the $80,000 transfer with media or in court.
Full Article & Source:
Nursing home owner investigated for $80K payout to legislator who moved to limit negligence claims
2 comments:
I am glad this came to light so people know whose side this legislator is on.
I hope this case is followed in the news. The legislator should be investigated. If it happened once, it likely happened more times.
Post a Comment