American taxpayers will foot the bill in a civil lawsuit filed by the family of a man who was killed by former South Dakota governor Bill Janklow (R).

The family of Randy Scott sued Janklow over the fatal August 16 accident. But a federal judge ruled yesterday that Janklow, as a former U.S. Congressman, was on official business at the time of the incident.

The ruling means the federal government, not Janklow, will be the defendant in the wrongful death suit. The family wanted Janklow to pay.

Get the Story:
Judge rules that Janklow was on duty during crash (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 7/14)
Judge: Janklow was on duty (AP 7/14)

Relevant Links:
Janklow/Scott Accident coverage, Sioux Falls Argus Leader - http://www.argusleader.com/specialsections/2003/janklowaccident
Janklow Trial coverage, Sioux Falls Argus Leader - http://www.argusleader.com/janklowtrial
Janklow Accident/Trial coverage, Rapid City Journal - http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/janklow
Dakota-Lakota-Nakota Coalition - http://www.dlncoalition.org/home.htm

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