$1M for motorcyclist’s family in Janklow crash
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Relatives of a motorcyclist killed in a crash with former Rep. Bill Janklow said Wednesday they've settled their South Dakota wrongful death lawsuit against the government for $1 million.
Randy Scott of Hardwick, Minn., was killed Aug. 16, 2003, when his Harley-Davidson struck the back of a Cadillac that Janklow drove through a stop sign at an intersection in eastern South Dakota.
Scott, 55, was killed instantly. Janklow, 68, was injured.
Scott's family sued the federal government for $25 million after the U.S. attorney in Minnesota concluded Janklow was on official business at the time. A trial had been scheduled to start June 16 in Minneapolis, but the family opted to settle Tuesday, said Scott's mother, Marcella Scott of Luverne, Minn.
"Now that it's all over, we can get closure," she said. "And so many people have been helpful and given us the strength to go on."
The family's lawyer, Ron Meshbesher, said federal attorneys settled "begrudgingly." Because it was a nondependent case, meaning Scott's two children are adults supporting themselves, the $1 million is about as much as was possible, he said.
Janklow has not commented on the accident but said Wednesday he's glad Scott's family can move on.
"I'm happy that part of it's over," he said.
Janklow, who has returned to private practice as a lawyer, was a dominating force in South Dakota politics for 30 years. After serving as attorney general, the Republican was governor for 16 years, serving four terms in two separate eight-year stints. In 2002, he was elected as South Dakota's lone member of the House.