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State police probe possible destruction of public records
By Charles E. Beggs, Associated Press Writer
Saturday, June 05, 2004 | 1 comment(s)
SALEM - Attorney General Hardy Myers has asked state police to probe allegations by an ex-employee of Saif Corp. that he destroyed public records on orders from superiors, Myers' office said Friday.
The charges are made in a sworn affidavit by Mark Cohen, a former public relations manager for the state-owned workers' compensation insurer, that was filed Thursday.
Myers spokesman Kevin Neely said Myers also will authorize Saif to hire outside lawyers in the records matter "to remove any perception of a conflict of interest" for the state.
As a state entity, the attorney general regularly represents the public corporation.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski asked Myers on Thursday to investigate the records allegations. Unauthorized destruction or concealment of public records is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum one-year jail term and $6,250 fine.
The affidavit was filed in Marion County Circuit Court by Portland lawyer John DiLorenzo, who says he believes the company has not turned over all the records he has requested.
DiLorenzo works for a group that gets substantial funding from rival insurer Liberty Northwest, of Portland, and has obtained court rulings gaining him access to many Saif records.
At DiLorenzo's request, Judge Paul Lipscomb issued a restraining order directing Saif not to destroy or conceal public records. Cohen also said he took home, at a boss's suggestion, paper copies of records that he deleted from his computer.
Saif officials deny that any worker has been told to improperly destroy records and say they had no knowledge that Cohen, who left the company in March, had destroyed or taken home any records.
Neely said prosecutions of any criminal charges would be through Marion County District Attorney Dale Penn's office. Assistant attorneys general by law can act as special deputy district attorneys to prosecute cases.
Cohen, 57, worked for Saif from February 2002 until "he was terminated" last March 31, said Saif spokesman Ken Van Osdol.
Saif officials say Cohen was asked to resign because of poor performance. Judy Snyder, a Portland attorney representing Cohen, said Friday he was concerned about concealing documents and left the company by mutual agreement.
Snyder said Cohen wouldn't be available for comment to the media.
Cohen's resume at Saif shows a lengthy history in public relations in mostly corporate jobs, Van Osdol said.
Cohen worked for 20 years for Mobil Oil, leaving that company in 1996 to form his own public relations firm in Davis, Calif.
He was deputy press secretary for the speaker of the California Assembly for most of 2000 and said he also owned a toy store in California, Van Osdol said.
The charges are made in a sworn affidavit by Mark Cohen, a former public relations manager for the state-owned workers' compensation insurer, that was filed Thursday.
Myers spokesman Kevin Neely said Myers also will authorize Saif to hire outside lawyers in the records matter "to remove any perception of a conflict of interest" for the state.
As a state entity, the attorney general regularly represents the public corporation.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski asked Myers on Thursday to investigate the records allegations. Unauthorized destruction or concealment of public records is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum one-year jail term and $6,250 fine.
The affidavit was filed in Marion County Circuit Court by Portland lawyer John DiLorenzo, who says he believes the company has not turned over all the records he has requested.
DiLorenzo works for a group that gets substantial funding from rival insurer Liberty Northwest, of Portland, and has obtained court rulings gaining him access to many Saif records.
At DiLorenzo's request, Judge Paul Lipscomb issued a restraining order directing Saif not to destroy or conceal public records. Cohen also said he took home, at a boss's suggestion, paper copies of records that he deleted from his computer.
Saif officials deny that any worker has been told to improperly destroy records and say they had no knowledge that Cohen, who left the company in March, had destroyed or taken home any records.
Neely said prosecutions of any criminal charges would be through Marion County District Attorney Dale Penn's office. Assistant attorneys general by law can act as special deputy district attorneys to prosecute cases.
Cohen, 57, worked for Saif from February 2002 until "he was terminated" last March 31, said Saif spokesman Ken Van Osdol.
Saif officials say Cohen was asked to resign because of poor performance. Judy Snyder, a Portland attorney representing Cohen, said Friday he was concerned about concealing documents and left the company by mutual agreement.
Snyder said Cohen wouldn't be available for comment to the media.
Cohen's resume at Saif shows a lengthy history in public relations in mostly corporate jobs, Van Osdol said.
Cohen worked for 20 years for Mobil Oil, leaving that company in 1996 to form his own public relations firm in Davis, Calif.
He was deputy press secretary for the speaker of the California Assembly for most of 2000 and said he also owned a toy store in California, Van Osdol said.
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