Former county attorney files $25 million claim

NAMPA (AP) - The former Canyon County Attorney has filed a $25 million tort claim against the county's top executives, accusing them of extortion and forcing his resignation amid a dispute over his handling of a contract to provide legal work for the city of Nampa.

The claim filed last week is the latest dustup between county officials and former attorney John Bujak, who stepped down from the elected post last fall after serving less than two years.

In the tort claim, Bujak contended commissioners forced him out of office, and in the process "extorted" a $1.8 million contract he had with Nampa to prosecute the city's misdemeanor cases.

The county and Nampa signed a contract in 2009 that gave Bujak control and diverted payments from the city into a trust fund managed only by him, but from which Bujak would reimburse the county for staff time and supplies.

At the time of his resignation, county officials claimed he owed the county $288,000 from the Nampa deal.

The dispute over that money has also spilled over into Bujak's federal bankruptcy case and in a separate, ongoing criminal investigation into Bujak's handling of that contract.

Bujak resigned Sept. 30 after telling commissioners he could not pay the $288,000 on the deadline set by the county. He also signed over the Nampa contract.

In his tort claim, the first step before filing a civil lawsuit, Bujak claimed the commissioners "extorted" the transfer of the Nampa contract by threatening to withdraw their endorsement of it. He claims the commissioners threated to sue him to collect money they knew they were not entitled and to prosecute him for misappropriation of government funds.

He also accuses county officials of making false and libelous statements about him in public and giving misleading statements to investigators conducting the criminal inquiry.

County Commission Chairman David Ferdinand declined to comment on the tort claim Friday, saying it would be inappropriate given the criminal investigation and bankruptcy case.

"We believe and trust that the public's understanding of the County's actions relative to John Bujak will fully develop through timely operation of the legal process," the commission said in a statement.

Bujak sought bankruptcy protection in November with debts of $1.3 million and assets of about $526,000 in a move that could wipe out all of his unsecured debts and distribute any recoverable assets among creditors.

The county filed a motion in that case in an attempt to recover the money it claims Bujak owes from the contract.