Local & Community
Judge Weighs Claim of Wasteful Spending in Riverside County Animal Services Lawsuit
A courtroom debate unfolded today over whether part of a lawsuit against Riverside County and its Animal Services Department will move ahead.
At issue is the plaintiffs’ claim of wasteful spending of taxpayer money. The judge pressed lead attorney Dan Bolton of the Walter Clark Legal Group to clearly define what “waste” means in this context.
Bolton argued that a consulting contract with Kristen Hassen, combined with the salary of former Animal Services Director Aaron Geddes over a two-year period, added up to nearly $3 million in what he described as “wasteful spending.”
The judge said she will issue a ruling in the next two weeks on whether this portion of the lawsuit will be allowed to proceed.
This comes after the court already ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on another key claim — that the county is legally required to provide medical care and maintain proper records at its animal shelters.
Attorney Dan Bolton is scheduled to join Fred Roggin at 6:30 p.m. on The Roggin Report to discuss the next steps in the case.
By: NBC Palm Springs
September 12, 2025
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