County resolves Bauer lawsuit

Bonner County has reached a $1.5 million settlement with former legal counsel Dustin Scott Bauer, resolving a tort claim that originally sought $4.7 million. Commissioner Asia Williams announced the settlement during a Tuesday meeting, emphasizing the county’s self-insured status and efforts to protect taxpayer money. The lawsuit stemmed from Bauer’s time as Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor (2020-2022), during which he alleged that former Chief Information Officer Brad Ptashkin and former Commissioner Dan McDonald interfered with his employment.

According to court documents, Bauer claimed he was removed from his position after providing legal advice that conflicted with McDonald and Ptashkin’s views regarding the consolidation of county electronic data. He further alleged intimidation and harassment, including false accusations of hacking and circumvention of proper legal review for IT contracts. The complaint detailed that Bauer advised the BOCC on the creation of a Chief Information Office position, and that his legal advice regarding data storage and privacy was “resisted and evaded” by the defendants.

The case was dismissed with prejudice following the resolution of the claims, meaning it cannot be brought before the court again. The $1.5 million payout will be covered by the county’s insurance layer after meeting a $500,000 deductible.

(Source：Bonner County Daily Bee)