Oregon Supreme Court Reinstates Elder Abuse Verdict against Barnett Resorts, LLC

The Oregon Supreme Court has reinstated a $3.2 million verdict against Josephine County Commissioner Chris Barnett and his company, Barnett Resorts, LLC, finding that their 2017 purchase of the Osprey Point RV Resort in Lakeside was built on premeditated deceit and elder financial abuse. In a narrow 4–3 decision, the state's highest court held that Barnett and his wife, Stefani, were fully aware that more than 70 mostly retired residents held "lifetime" membership contracts -- many of whom lived at the park year-round -- but never disclosed any intent to honor those agreements. After initially honoring a handful of memberships, the Barnetts abruptly notified all members that their contracts were void, enabling them to acquire the property for nearly $1 million below its $2.8 million appraised value. Although the Oregon Court of Appeals previously reversed the elder abuse ruling, the Supreme Court reinstated it, emphasizing the deliberate and deceptive nature of the Barnetts' actions. A Coos County jury had awarded $500,000 for breach of contract and $2.7 million in triple damages under Oregon's elder abuse statute. Justice Aruna Masih's majority opinion stressed that this was precisely the kind of malicious financial exploitation elder-abuse laws exist to prevent. ...Read more

GP Police & Firefighters Closed Out April with Strong Community Protection Effort

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters closed out the month of April with another strong effort protecting the local community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 655 calls for service along with 254 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 48 arrests, 43 citations, 53 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 79 traffic stops in the city and they made 28 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). They also responded to three drug overdoses and made seven drug deflection referrals. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 12 potential troublemakers while citing four people and warning three others. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 75 calls last week including 33 for emergency medical service, two reports of fire or smoke, 12 lift assists, three rescue situations, one assist to another agency and five false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,058 emergency calls. ...Read more

GP Public Works Offering Wednesday Tours of WT & WR Plants for "Drinking Water Week"

The Grants Pass Public Works Department has announced that "Drinking Water Week" is underway and it runs through May 10th. The mark the occasion, Public Works is offering tours of the Water Treatment and Water Restoration Plants to help people learn about the journey our water takes in Grants Pass. The Water Filtration Plant treats water drawn from the Rogue River before it's released to city reservoirs and -- ultimately -- your home or business. The Water Restoration Plant treats the water that leaves your home's or business's drainage pipes, making it safe to release downstream into the river. Tours last approximately one hour and are limited to eight people at a time. Both plants have stairs, so comfortable shoes are required. Tours are available at the Grants Pass Water Treatment and Restoration Plants on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling (541)-450-6110. ...Read more