John Chiv: Disciplinary charges against two Deputy County Counsel for the Magney case

I was the first one to report on the Magney case and the numerous issues and cost to the County. I did many exclusives which included reporting that Deputy Counsel Blair Angus was being investigated by the California State Bar.

Disciplinary charges have been filed against Angus and Deputy County Counsel Natalie Duke in State Bar Court. This is for the Magney lawsuit.

The Magney case made national headlines and the person in charge was former County Counsel Jeffrey Blanck who sued the County.

The Magney settlement was a million dollars. This does not include other expenses related to this case such as the ones related to Blanck. What will Duke and Angus legal fees cost you?

In the action summary for the July 28 closed session agenda, you see outside counsel has been hired. That is the attorney for Duke.

The County wants you, the taxpayers, to pay the expenses when the County and the County Counsel office had plenty of warnings and opportunities to rectify their mistakes.

Duke is charged with eight counts which include incompetence, failure to follow the law, misleading a judge, moral turpitude, incompetence and maintaining an injust action.

Angus is charged with four counts which include moral turpitude, misleading a Judge, failure to follow the law and incompetence.

Why was the hiring of the attorney for Duke done without the public being informed? The County addressed legal representation for Auditor Karen Paz Dominguez in open session.

The only exemption to discuss something in closed session is if there is pending litigation against the County.

Angus' complaint is 16 pages long. Duke's complaint is 22 pages long. You can read the complaint online.