On Monday, outgoing town trustee Linda Steele accused Piggot of failing to disclose a conflict of interest in a timely manner. In a letter, which Steele signed as a trustee, she claimed Piggot’s alleged actions “could be sufficient to bring a malpractice action.”
After fewer than three months on the job, Piggot resigned Tuesday because of the letter, Olathe Mayor Don Perkins said.
|
Advertisement |
“The town offers its sincerest apologies to Mindi Piggot and her law firm, Overholser and Conerly, for the unfounded accusations made by Linda Steele,” Perkins read from a statement issued after the board reconvened into public session.
“Linda Steele acted on her own, without the knowledge or approval of the town of Olathe board of trustees, current employees of the town or the mayor.”
He said a more formal apology was being prepared.
Piggot’s attorney, Jim Delman, told the Daily Press Piggot was “blindsided” by the accusation and ethically, the letter left her with little choice but to step down.
“Given the fact that what has happened creates a potential conflict between her and the town, I think she felt ethically, she had to and didn’t have a choice,” Delman said.
After the meeting Thursday, Perkins said though the town itself was not responsible for Steele’s actions, the apology was appropriate.
“We (the town) didn’t really owe her (Piggot) one, but it happened under the town’s watch,” Perkins said.
He did not explain how the town reached its conclusion about the veracity of the allegations, except to say “it wasn’t hard to do.”
Piggot declined to comment personally on her resignation or the town’s statement.
Perkins said Steele’s conduct angered him. “It’s just one more thing on a list of items the town has Ms. Steele to ‘thank’ for.”
Steele did not attend Thursday’s meeting and could not be reached for comment Friday.
The town provided a copy of Steele’s letter to the Daily Press. In it, Steele claimed Piggot represented the Valdez family group, but did not disclose this to the town “until after she had obtained and reviewed the complete ... legal file and had requested and obtained further information regarding specific concerns the town of Olathe might have with her other ‘client.’”
Delman said Steele’s claims strained credulity and it was disappointing she would make such claims without enough information, or even speaking to Piggot.
“The allegations are completely unfounded. We have no idea where anyone could’ve gotten the idea they were true,” he said. “We’re appalled anyone, particularly someone in that position, would make allegations of that kind.”
Piggot’s departure marks the second resignation of a town attorney in less than a year. Piggot was hired to replace former town attorney Susan Baker, whose resignation was effective in February and who officially left in March.
Perkins said the board needs to act soon on hiring a new attorney and will begin advertising the position
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!