No this isn’t evidence, it is my cake recipe book
The same guy who tormented citizens over code enforcement (Drug out the Dan Daily case for 7 years), was terminated for trying to ‘fix’ a traffic violation for his child and was censured by the State Bar & SC wants a second chance;
A former assistant city attorney for Sioux Falls who walked out of an appeal hearing on his termination wants another chance to make his case.
The legal challenge is the latest in the four-year fallout from the firing of R. Shawn Tornow, a two-term state legislator who had been one of the longest-serving and controversial members of the city’s legal team.
Tornow oversaw the civil service board and became the public face of high-profile legal battles over code violations and the city’s now-defunct automated traffic cameras before his dismissal.
He also was the subject of a public rebuke from the state Supreme Court for dishonesty and abuse of power during his tenure.
On July 30, 2013, Tornow walked out of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing with the city’s civil service board after it ruled that panelist Tom Nicholson did not have a conflict of interest and could make a fair decision in the case.
Nicholson was president of the State Bar of South Dakota when the Bar’s disciplinary board censured Tornow for ethical violations.
After Tornow’s walkout, the board issued a ruling that said he’d defaulted on claims of improper termination and given up the right to further hearings. They also charged him $900 for failure to stay.
While working for the city, Tornow mislead then-mayoral candidate Kermit Staggers about the existence of a recorded phone conversation and tried to get a speeding ticket for his adult daughter dismissed.
Tornow contends he was forced out hastily and contrary to city policy, but has never presented evidence to the civil service board or to a circuit court judge.
“Aren’t you trying to have your cake and eat it, too?” Riepel said.
Oh, Pat, we both know he likes to eat cake. I wonder if Tornow missed the semester or two in law school about ‘presenting evidence’ so you can argue your case? I think the city and county should go a step further and ban this disgrace of a municipal attorney from our city and county. Please, Shawn, go away, you have wasted enough tax dollars and time.