Woman files intent to sue Kootenai County sheriff

COEUR d’ALENE — A woman is seeking more than $500,000 in damages from Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris after she said he defamed her at a campaign event. 

Pennie Collinson filed a notice of tort claim against Kootenai County and Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris on July 10, according to public records obtained by The Press. 

A tort claim is not a lawsuit, but rather a precursor to a lawsuit against a government agency. Collinson’s claim indicates she intends to file a lawsuit if the matter is not resolved within 90 days of July 10. 

The claim alleges that Norris made vulgar sexual remarks about Collinson to a crowd of about 60 people at an April 24 candidate forum in Cataldo. Norris also allegedly said Collinson, who was present at the forum, likes to “photograph child pornography at the local library.” 

Collinson said damages for emotional distress, reputational harm, public disgrace and ridicule and damage to her photography business total more than $500,000, according to the claim. She has also requested attorneys’ fees and costs related to the tort claim. 

Norris denied the allegations in a news release published Tuesday and suggested the claim is politically motivated. 

“I will not allow political operatives to tarnish my reputation,” Norris said. “There is a small group of people who think it’s OK to use the judicial system to smear local elected officials and that needs to stop.” 

Norris said he is offering a $10,000 reward for video evidence of Collinson’s allegations and indicated he is weighing his legal options, including a possible countersuit. 

Collinson has been sued for defamation twice, both times in 2020. 

In one case, the plaintiffs accused Collinson of making false and defamatory statements about Hank’s Law Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for stronger animal cruelty laws in Idaho. Collinson allegedly accused the nonprofit’s director of “absconding with funds” and abusing an animal. 

In the other case, a Kootenai County woman accused Collinson of making defamatory remarks about her and impersonating her on social media in order to damage her reputation. 

Both lawsuits were resolved through mediation and subsequently dismissed. The mediated agreement in the latter case involved an apology statement that ran in The Press once a week for four weeks, according to court records.