SEATTLE (AP) - The signature-gathering firm Citizen Solutions and one of its officers have been found liable in a lawsuit that claims they secretly paid anti-tax initiative Tim Eyman from funds they received to gather signatures for Eyman’s initiative drives.
The Seattle Times reports Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon granted a motion for default against Citizen Solutions and William Agazarm, after they “willfully and deliberately” failed to follow court orders and discovery rules over 18 months.
Dixon’s May 17 order doesn’t affect Eyman, who is also a defendant.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued in 2017, alleging a scheme in which Eyman solicited more money for his signature-gathering campaigns than was needed, and then in violation of campaign finance laws got paid kickbacks from Citizen Solutions.
Citizen Solutions has been in contempt of court for 15 months, racking up $175,000 in fines.
Those fines “have had no appreciable effect.so the greater sanction of a default is warranted,” Dixon wrote. He also granted Ferguson’s request for Agazarm and Citizen Solutions to cover the state’s attorney fees in the case. Other potential sanctions will be considered at a future hearing, Dixon said.
Citizen Solutions didn’t respond to a request for comment.
“This order finds Eyman’s associates liable for their role in Tim Eyman’s kickback scheme,” Ferguson said in a statement. “This sends a message that you can’t deceive Washington voters and get away with it.”
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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com
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