Martinez Draws Line on Liability Blanket

Susana Martinez

Santa Fe New Mexican - Taxpayers won't be picking up the legal tab for two men involved in the latest lawsuit related to alleged pay-to-play schemes in the former Gov. Bill Richardson administration. That's the decision of Gov. Susana Martinez's administration. In a letter this week, administration officials informed former state investment officer Gary Bland, one of the defendants, that he's on his own for legal expenses. Bland had asked if the state's Risk Management Division would pay his legal tab, the officials said. Former state Game Commissioner Guy Riordan has yet to ask, Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said, but if he does, the answer will be no. Riordan, a former securities broker, also is named in the suit. The state won't pay the lawyers' bills in the case because state law dealing with tort claims "was not intended to provide defense for state employees when the state itself pursues legal action against them," Darnell said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Martinez Draws Line on Liability Blanket