Ex-county employee wins lawsuit
Alleged county maliciously prosecuted
BY JOHN ZICK THE LEADER

BATH - A jury has awarded a former Steuben County employee nearly $425,000 after determining the county maliciously prosecuted the man more than four years ago.

Dennis Putnam, who worked for the Department of Social Services and lives in Addison, was awarded $200,000 in general damages and $200,000 for a diminished employment capacity, his attorney said Tuesday.

Also, Putnam's wife received $20,000 as part of the judgment, and more than $3,000 was awarded for attorney and other fees.

Eric Dadd of Attica handled Putnam's case.

Steuben County Attorney Fred Ahrens said the county will await the outcome of post trial issues before deciding on whether to appeal the decision.

Putnam, who worked for DSS for 26 years, was charged with felony filing a false instrument in June 2003 after turning in a handwritten $13 lunch receipt, Dadd said.

In October 2004, Putnam went to trial in Bath Village Court on a reduced misdemeanor charge of filing a false instrument. He was acquitted in "20 minutes," Dadd said.

After, Putnam retained Dadd to pursue the malicious prosecution charge.

According to Dadd, the county never offered an explanation for the criminal charge against Putnam, saying it was "the large unanswered question, which the county was unable to answer."

Dadd said Putnam turning in a handwritten lunch receipt was common practice among county employees.

"They (the county) proceeded maliciously," Dadd said. "The jury spoke loud and clear."

Putnam was suspended without pay from DSS after his arrest. In 2005, he received a monetary separation package to leave the department, Dadd said.

The jury deliberated for approximately nine hours over two days, Dadd said. The trial lasted approximately a week.

Donald Thompson of the Davidson & O'Mara Law Firm in Elmira represented the county. A judge from Rochester presided over the trial, which was held in Bath.

Putnam could not be reached for comment Tuesday.