PORTSMOUTH
A woman who worked as a nurse for a health care contractor at the city jail has sued Sheriff Bill Watson, charging that he defamed her in comments that were published in The Virginian-Pilot.
Adrienne West sued in Portsmouth Circuit Court earlier this month, naming Watson and the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office as defendants. She is represented by attorney Jason C. Roper.
In an interview, Watson called West's suit "frivolous" and said she had "nothing to stand on here." He said he had never mentioned the woman by name.
West's suit says that when she reported to work on June 2, 2007, she was met by police detectives investigating illegal drugs in the jail. The suit says she cooperated with them because she had "nothing to hide."
She was searched and questioned, and she agreed to take a polygraph exam. She was "extremely nervous" and the result was inconclusive; the test was given again and she passed. She consistently denied bringing drugs into the jail, her suit says.
Her complaint says that the detectives were satisfied. Watson told her as she left he knew the results and "not to worry about it," her suit says.
Watson said Thursday he didn't recall ever meeting West.
West felt singled out and decided she no longer wanted the job and resigned, her suit says.
Weeks later, the Pilot published two articles that contained statements attributed to Watson, now attached as exhibits to her suit.
One reported that an inmate had told Watson that contractors were bringing drugs into the jail, and that Watson suspected two former employees, including a Prison Health Services nurse who had resigned. The other article reported the sheriff said two contractors he suspected of bringing drugs to the jail no longer worked there.
West was not identified by name. Her suit says her identity was clear to people who knew her. It says people asked her about the articles and asked if she was a drug dealer. She says Watson's statements were defamatory.
West seeks $3 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.
Matthew Roy, (757) 446-2540, matthew.roy@pilotonline.com
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Geez
You know, people who pull stunts like this are usually people who have something to hide. Maybe she didn't bring drugs into the jail, but did she know who was? Could this be just a smoke screen? Is she being blackmailed by the dealer somehow? So many angles, so few answers...
Fair and Honest
"Bill Watson is a fair and honest man." What a laugh! Can I get some of that koolaid your drinking?
whoa is me, whoe is me
Could this perhaps be yet another looking for one of those free rides?
Sounds like somebody is trying to get rich
Frivolous is not the correct word. Ignorant fit’s better. She must need money to help out Momma Lucas. To have your name posted makes me want to watch for your job application and circular file it. You admit to having a job and then quitting, that to me shows a measure of quilt. If I was Watson, I would counter sue you and have your license revoked. It’s clear you have no concern for the people you were tasked to care for. Just up and left with no replacement. How many people did your actions endanger? Mal-practice? I would say so. Get a life, people get investigated everyday and you ran scared.
Now we know
Her name was not mentioned in the original article?!?!?
Well everyone knows now - who's fault is that?
Maybe the Pilot should have an article that says there is a guy who sells drugs in Norfolk, and all the drug dealers can rush right out and sue and say - 'Hey I sell drugs - they're talkin' about me'
Big Mike, it's a shame...
You have such a bad impression of the Portsmouth SD and PD. I suppose that's mainly the media's fault for portraying things the way they have. They work together a lot closer than you think. I too, would love for someone to find and convict Meghan's killer, but there are unsolved murders on the books much older than that, in all cities. Sheriff Watson is a fair and honest man, and this trumped up charge is just another feeble attempt to discredit him and his Dept.
Looks like portsmouth has a hard time investigating anything.
It's sad that P-town is run so badly and can't seem to do much of anything right. It is a pretty city with lots of history in it and in a prime location. But it seems it's government and law enforcement has always been corrupt and full of blunders. We've seen the Sheriff arrested by the PD and all the friction between the two departments. We've seen the SD go after the public works vehicles and we've seen a mayor missuse city vehicles and be the center of other issues. Now they can't seem to run an investigation in a closed environment such as a prison. No wonder that after NINE WEEKS they are still no closer to finding the brutal murderer of Meghan Landowski. It would be nice to see P-town square it's act away and become the great city that it could be but until they clean out city government, they don't stand a chance.