Defmation Suit by Private Investigator against Dever police dismissed
/A lawsuit alleging that police SWAT team members defamed a private
investigator and covered up evidence in a 1999 police shooting death
was dismissed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Denver. James E.
Kearney, who said he was asked by the dead man's family to look into
the shooting, claimed his reputation was damaged by police who
conspired to discredit him, even filing a defamation lawsuit against
him. In a ruling filed Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch
dismissed the case, saying Kearney failed to connect allegations of
conspiracy with the damages he said he suffered. Matsch also said there
was nothing to suggest that SWAT team members sued Kearney to block the
investigation in the shooting death of Ismael Mena in a no-knock search
of the wrong house. [more 
]
]
