U.S. District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal ordered San Bernardino County to pay attorney fees to Larson O’Brien after ruling that former San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos acted in bad faith by deleting emails and text messages sought as evidence during the Colonies Partners corruption case.
In November 2019, partner Stephen G. Larson filed a motion with the court seeking sanctions against the former District Attorney and the county. On Feb. 27, 2020, U.S. Magistrate Judge Shashi H. Kewalramani concluded the District Attorney had a duty to preserve emails and text messages and found his excuses for not doing so unacceptable. Judge Bernal accepted these findings.
“It is shocking that any lawyer, particularly one serving as District Attorney, would act in ‘bad faith’ and destroy evidence relevant to an on-going litigation. I cannot describe the outrage felt by [Colonies Partners co-managing partner] Jeff Burum, the Colonies, and the others who have been subjected to Mike Ramos’ political persecution over this past decade, now only to discover that he destroyed evidence of his nefarious conduct.”
— Stephen Larson
Read the full article by Joe Nelson of the San Bernardino Sun covering the ruling here.
