Judge dismisses defamation lawsuit against Kootenai County sheriff

COEUR d’ALENE — A judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit that named Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris due to a procedural issue, though the woman who accused Norris of defaming her at a campaign event last year is likely to refile the suit. 

The civil complaint, filed in October 2024 by Coeur d’Alene resident Pennie Collinson, alleged that Norris made vulgar sexual remarks about Collinson during a candidate forum in Cataldo last April. The lawsuit accused Norris of saying that Collinson, who was present at the forum, likes to “photograph child pornography at the local library.” 

The lawsuit originally named Norris and Kootenai County, though the parties later agreed to dismiss the county from the case. 

In court Monday, First District Judge Lamont Berecz granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss the case entirely on the grounds that Collinson failed to comply with a law related to civil lawsuits against police. 

Idaho law requires proposed plaintiffs to file “a written undertaking with at least two sufficient sureties” before filing any civil action against a law enforcement officer “when such action arises out of ... the course of the performance of his duty.” 

When a plaintiff fails to post a bond in accordance with the statute, the judge “shall dismiss the case.” 

Collinson did not post a $500 cash bond with the court until April 7 of this year, according to court records, months after she filed the lawsuit. 

Berecz said the law was clear and allowed him no room to exercise discretion. 

“It’s mandatory,” he said. “I have to dismiss the case.” 

In response to a request from Collinson’s legal counsel, Berecz determined that the $500 bond is sufficient and granted permission for Collinson to bring the lawsuit again, this time in accordance with statute. 

“I will allow the case to be refiled,” he said. 

The original civil complaint included statements from several people who attended the forum and supported Collinson’s description of what happened.

Norris vehemently denied the allegations after Collinson filed the civil suit last October. 

The sheriff’s office published a news release about the matter in July 2024, after Collinson filed a notice of tort claim against Norris and the county, calling Collinson’s claims “frivolous” and “100% false.” In the same release, Norris offered a $10,000 reward for video proof of Collinson’s allegations. 

The initial lawsuit, which sought damages in excess of $10,000, contended that Norris’ alleged remarks at the forum and subsequent public comments about Collinson’s allegations have caused her to suffer severe emotional distress, which has manifested as “headaches, loss of sleep, anxiety, nightmares, post-traumatic stress, night sweats and nervous tics.” 

Collinson has been sued for defamation twice, both times in 2020. Both lawsuits were resolved through mediation and subsequently dismissed.

In one case, the plaintiffs accused Collinson of making false and defamatory statements about a nonprofit that advocates for stronger animal cruelty laws in Idaho. 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.