Letters: Sanches' atty.: City atty. using fear, innuendo against client

One of the primary rules of most courts is for lawyers not to litigate pending lawsuits in the media. Mr. Black's letter of Nov. 1 ("Major conflict of interest if Sanches wins clerk race") disparaging Joei Sanches and Police Officer Michelle Barber is an attempt at this.

I reply here because Mr. Black also disparaged my motives for representing these two fine citizens of Crescent City, who are not motivated by monetary gain, or to injure the city, and its citizens, who they deeply care for: this care and concern, which is the real reason for this final effort to seek out the courts to correct what they see as long standing corruption in city government.

It would be very helpful if Mr. Black had helped the readers and citizens to discuss the important issues these lawsuits honestly bring forth. Thankfully, the staff of The Triplicate has done a fine job in reporting these issues, and will no doubt continue.

Instead, Mr. Black uses innuendo and fear to prejudice the readers and citizens against my clients and myself.

There are many government whistleblowers who continue in office. They "blow the whistle" because of their loyalty, not in spite of it. Rest assured that Ms. Sanches and Officer Barber would serve the citizens of Crescent City with the 110 percent loyalty and zeal they always have, and that I will never ask or hint that they compromise themselves in any way. The benefit of any doubt will always go to the citizens of Crescent City: that is why they went to court in the first place.

Also, rest assured that when Ms. Sanches was city finance manager, one of the first things she did was to assure very adequate insurance for the city and its citizens: the earlier corruption allegations were one of the reasons she was hired. Mr. Black's "scare tactics" of "$500 per citizen" are unfounded: this matter is being fully defended by the city's San Francisco lawyers and insurer.

Abraham Goldman

Oregon House, Calif.