COUNTY EXECUTIVE POLLITT ANNOUNCES RECEIPT OF QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE SETTLEMENT ON LANDFILL THEFT LOSS
Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. announced today that the County has received a $250,000 insurance settlement check as a result of a claim filed following the theft of fuel and other items from the Wicomico County Landfill. The thefts occurred between 2005 and 2008 and the total value of stolen materials was estimated to be as high as $400,000, according to a forensic auditor’s report.
Immediately following the exposure of the burglary ring that stole from the landfill and the size of the loss involved, Executive Pollitt vowed that he would explore all available avenues to recover the taxpayer’s loss. One of these was an aggressive pursuit of an insurance settlement. The payment just received is the result of this. “I am very pleased at the efforts of County Attorney Edgar A. Baker, Jr. His tireless work with our insurance company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, produced the biggest payment allowable under the terms of our policy.”
In addition to the insurance settlement, Ray Lewis, the convicted leader of the burglary ring, has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000. The three other convicted members have been ordered to pay a total of $18,500.
“While I am glad that our taxpayer’s loss is being cut to a minimum, I am well aware that no amount of money can restore the public confidence lost by this felony. The only way that can happen is that I make sure that this never happens again at the landfill or at any county agency where I have authority. I have taken, and shall continue to take, every step to assure the citizens of Wicomico County of this.”
18 comments:
From the looks of it they came out $18,500 dollars ahead. There was no taxpayers loss being cut to a minimum. Did I miss something somewhere?
County Ins. or not---- these people should have money taken out of their retirement each month to pay back what they STOLE!! The shape our Countys in, I'm sure it could & SHOULD BE USED FOR THE TAXPAYERS BENEFIT SO OUR TAXES WON'T BE RAISED. FOR SURE THE INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE COSTING "US" MORE!!!---------------
THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED IN SALISBURY
Yes, now the county insurance premiums go up for the next 3+years, or until about triple the payout is paid back to Travelers. Watch and see. The Taxpayer will pay this bill more than once.
Wait until Travelers pays out for Devenyns lawsuit and they may even drop Wicomico entirely.
Hold on everyone. I am a licensed insurance broker and #1 Rates will NOT go up due to a "theft" #2 Due to it being a "theft" the insurance company will have their own lawsuit against the guilty parties to retrieve their loss. The county insurance will be ok.
Rick Pollitt is a FN joke!! He PROMISED those involved would pay or be fired, and nothing has happened to everyone else involved. Im glad the residents have seen him for what he is.....all talk!
First, good job Ed Baker. I'm glad that your hard work paid off and that you are getting credit for the hours you have put into this incident. Second, the insurance company will hit those crooks were it really hurts--in court to recover the monies they have paid out. It might be small consolation but a big chunk off their pensions will probably be going to Travelers Insurance Company for a few years !
5:57 -
You know darn well that money isn't going to be paid back. If Ray Lewis had that kind of cash, he wouldn't have needed to steal tires and diesel fuel.
Great we got most of our money back but Mr. Pollitt Why haven't we seen new leadership in these dept.'s. Clearly the gentlemen in charge now were in the chain of command when the thefts occurred why haven't they been held responsible for their imcompatance.I am sure that in these trying times there are plenty of qualified candidates for these positions
I agree with others here. What am I missing? Should not the guilty parties be ordered to pay the entire amount of the theft? Or is it a case that they could not prove the alleged amount? Maybe, in fact they have no clue to what the real amount is? My guess is that we will really never know the entire truth, or the entire dollar amount of loss. Then, how about all the dollars used to investigate, then send to trial, then house the thieves in jail. It is a sad state of affairs.
Does the insurance company know that some of the thieves are still employed at the landfill? That should cause the insurance to go up so the county still loses.
Garnish their retirement wages every month until the amount is paid.All of these guys got off very lightly.
You might want Rick Pollitt to look at some other county departments that have little supervision (Wico County Soil & Conservation) to name one. Lots of questionable moves there too. Ps Mr Pollit's office was contacted last year but HA HA it fell on deaf ears.
"If Ray Lewis had that kind of cash, he wouldn't have needed to steal tires and diesel fuel."
Who says he NEEDED to steal? Sometimes it just boils down to greed and seeing how much you can get away with.
Insurance rates are sure to go up, and up even more when the lawyers are finished with Doug Devenyns.
first of all, the insurance company should not pay for a thing.
everyone involved has property.
why did the court only make them pay back a part of what they rook.
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All workplaces have insurance that covers theft but they still seek restitution in full.Any property the thieves own should have a lien slapped on it until they are paid up for what they took.
Rick Pollitt: "I have taken, and shall continue to take, every step to assure the citizens of Wicomico County of this.”
Oh? Like joining with the Council to fire the new auditor after she reported problems getting information? Words. Just words.
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