Law
Judge will make BIA employee alcohol survey public


A federal judge plans to make a survey of alcohol and other problems among Bureau of Indian Affairs employees public if it is introduced as evidence in a civil trial.

The survey is at issue in the trial of ex-BIA employee Lloyd Larson, who was driving a government car while under the influence of alcohol. He hit another car head-on, killing two Nebraska couples.

The federal government wants to keep the survey under seal but the judge said the "public interest" outweighed any privacy concerns. Personal information, such as Social Security numbers and home addresses, will be redacted if the survey is introduced at the trial.

The family of one couple settled its lawsuit with the BIA for the $2 million. The other family did not settle.

Get the Story:
Judge: DWI backgrounds of BIA workers will be made public if introduced at civil trial (AP 4/10)