Allen Olsen retains an attorney to defend him in residency case

Libby City Councilman Allen Olsen has retained the services of a Whitefish attorney to defend him in a case brought by City Attorney Jim Reintsma.

Doug Scotti, of Morrison & Frampton law firm, will represent Olsen. In court documents, Scotti alleged “abuses of process” and “malicious prosecution” were involved when, only weeks before last year’s mayoral election,  Reintsma alleged Olsen lived outside of city boundaries, thus making him ineligible to serve as city councilman or run for mayor.

“There were 38 allegations against me,” Olsen said. “There are 17 factual allegations but we responded to all 38 of them in district court.”

Reintsma, and Mayor Doug Roll, have denied any malice or plans to smear Olsen’s campaign.

Payment of Olsen’s legal fees has been a serious bone of contention in Libby City Council. Olsen believes the city is required to pay his legal fees since he is an elected official. The city has refused.

“My only regret is that the city taxpayers have to pay for this,” Olsen said.

While a February court date was originally set, Olsen said he is now looking toward mid-April.

The veracity of Olsen’s Libby residency has been in question since 2012, when he was first elected to City Council.