Fayette County’s liability insurance premium soars [Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.]

May 28--The liability insurance premium for Fayette County government through the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is increasing by $98,000 for 2010, putting insurance expenses about $40,000 over the county's estimates.

County commissioners accepted a $459,478 premium in voting Thursday to renew their participation in the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool program, which they joined in 2000.

In March, John Sallade, the association's insurance program director, told commissioners that the county's law enforcement liability claims and public officials liability claims were running much higher than other counties in the risk pool.

Overall, the program's incurred losses are about $1 million more than the premiums collected from the county in the past decade, Sallade told county officials then.

With the county's program renewal in June, deductibles for law-enforcement liability claims and public officials liability claims will increase from $10,000 per claim to $25,000 per claim.

In recent years, the Cellurale family in Dunbar Township received a $150,000 settlement after alleging manipulation of zoning laws by the county and Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink, and the controversial Church of Universal Love and Music in Bullskin got $75,000 in a settlement after claiming county officials stifled its attempts to hold nondenominational rock concerts.

Two former employees of the controller's office got a combined $46,000 in settlements after they claimed unlawful termination when Sean Lally's tenure began.

A convicted murderer, David Munchinski, also continues to pursue his freedom on the grounds that Fayette prosecutors tampered with evidence and withheld exculpatory evidence during his trial in the 1980s.

Two more significant lawsuits sprouted this year.

Zimmerlink, a Republican, sued her two Democratic colleagues, Vince Vicites and Vince Zapotosky, alleging they've acted to prevent her from expressing her opinion on the matter. Former Election Director Laurie Lint sued the Democratic commissioners, claiming her October dismissal was related to her Republican registration.

During the commissioners' meeting yesterday, Zimmerlink noted the variety of lawsuits against the county and several officeholders and defended her actions in two terms as a commissioner.

"Everything that I've done, I would do again," she said.

Without specifically referring to Zimmerlink, Zapotosky pointed out that one of the changes to the county's liability insurance this year is a provision barring coverage for a lawsuit filed by one elected official against another.

"Hopefully, the truth in these cases will prevail," he said.

Commissioners also approved a settlement stipulation to decrease the market value of the Laurel Mall property in Dunbar Township to $1.35 million from $1.5 million for tax years 2009 and 2010.

Gator Laurel Partners LLP of Florida, which bought the property and 41 acres for $500,000, appealed the tax assessment.

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