Oops. $50,000 verdict against Iowa Democrats.

[progressoid]

Bluffs man wins $50,000 verdict against Iowa Democrats

A Council Bluffs attorney said he hopes a message has been sent to political parties to stick to the issues during election campaigns after his client was awarded $50,000 stemming from a pamphlet mailed out by the state’s Democratic Party during a 2008 campaign for an Iowa House seat.

...

Higginbotham was the focus of a pamphlet mailed out by the Democratic Party during that year’s campaign for the Iowa House District 100 seat between Democratic incumbent Paul Shomshor and Republican challenger Scott Belt.

The pamphlet mentioned that Belt, in 1994, bailed out Higginbotham, who, the pamphlet accused, was a convicted sex offender. Back then, Belt and Higginbotham were both employees of Fran Oil Co.

...

In response, Norm Sterzenback, executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party, said, “The plaintiff in this case pled guilty to serious assault and providing alcohol to a minor, after he was initially charged with sex abuse in the third degree, lascivious acts with a child and supplying alcohol to a minor. The plaintiff spent nearly a year in prison as a result.

“The Iowa Democratic Party relied on research, which was obtained and vetted by an independent firm. Unfortunately, the firm provided inaccurate information concerning the type of criminal conviction. We are currently seeking compensation from this research firm to cover the costs of this case.

...

http://southwestiowanews.com/articles/2011/11/04/council_bluffs/news/doc4eb40b3a71242355844871.txt




BTW, Shomshor (D) won and Belt is now on the County Board of Supervisors