Suit against Garfield County sheriff, former deputy settled

GLENWOOD SPRINGS A lawsuit against Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario and former Deputy Brandon Pariscoff, stemming from use of a stun gun, has been settled for an undisclosed sum.According to a document filed Feb. 19, the lawsuit filed by Danny Martin against the sheriff and the former deputy was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled.Martins attorney, Anthony Viorst of a Denver-based law office, confirmed a settlement had been reached.We have resolved it, there was a settlement, but at this point I really cant disclose the amount, Viorst said Thursday. But we did resolve it to our satisfaction.Viorst said he had not yet received a settlement agreement and didnt know if a confidentiality stipulation was part of the deal, so he could not discuss the details.Martin filed the lawsuit in federal court in October 2008, claiming Pariscoff fired at him with a stun gun twice and unnecessarily during a 2006 traffic stop. Martin claimed resulting coronary and spinal cord injuries from use of the gun, which delivers an electrical shock.Pariscoff was fired in November 2007, nearly a year after Martin filed the suit, for reasons that included allegations of dishonesty.The lawsuit alleged Pariscoffs use of the stun gun under the circumstances was meant to hurt Martin and was done without regard to his constitutional rights protecting against unreasonable seizures. It also added that Sheriff Vallario and Garfield County failed to adequately train and supervise Pariscoff.Pariscoffs attorney, Elliot Scott of Senter, Goldfarb & Rice LLC in Denver, didnt respond to requests for comment Thursday.Sheriff Vallario said earlier this week he was aware that the case had been settled, but did not know the dollar amount or the circumstances surrounding the deal.jgardner@postindependent.com