Attorney in county lab case: 'certain' officers' cases got 'preferential treatment'

Yahoo! News - Mar 26th, 2025
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In a defamation lawsuit involving two former Niagara County forensics lab employees, attorney Christen Civiletto asserted that the lab, under former director Dr. Kori Ortt-Gawyrs, gave 'preferential treatment' to certain police officers' cases. The plaintiffs, Tom DiFonzo and Lauren Rogers, allege that Ortt-Gawyrs compromised the lab's integrity by prioritizing certain drug cases, receiving evidence directly, and creating a secretive environment. During a court hearing, Civiletto unsuccessfully argued for the public release of audiotaped interviews from an internal review that she claims support these allegations and highlight significant public interest issues.

The lawsuit, refiled in state court after a federal dismissal, accuses Ortt-Gawyrs of harassment, retaliation, and unethical lab practices. These include improperly certifying a chemist and using her political connections to intimidate employees. Despite the defense denying these claims, the case raises concerns about public accountability and the integrity of forensic lab operations. The ongoing legal battle underscores issues of transparency and ethical conduct within public institutions, potentially impacting the prosecution of drug cases in Niagara County.

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RATING

6.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a detailed account of an ongoing legal case involving serious allegations against a former forensics lab director. It is timely and addresses issues of significant public interest, such as the integrity of forensic evidence and potential misuse of authority. The article presents a balanced view by including perspectives from both the plaintiffs and the defense, though it could benefit from a wider range of sources to enhance credibility. While the narrative is clear, the complexity of the legal proceedings and use of jargon may limit accessibility for some readers. Overall, the story highlights important issues but would be strengthened by additional verification and context to fully understand the implications of the case.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story is largely accurate in presenting the claims made by the parties involved in the lawsuit. It accurately reports the allegations made by the plaintiffs, Tom DiFonzo and Lauren Rogers, against Dr. Kori Ortt-Gawyrs, including claims of preferential treatment for certain police officers' cases and the alleged compromising of the lab's integrity. However, the story lacks concrete evidence to support these claims, and they remain allegations at this stage. The article also accurately reflects the defendants' denials of wrongdoing. The narrative would benefit from additional independent verification of the claims, such as documentation or eyewitness testimony, to enhance its factual accuracy.

8
Balance

The article provides a balanced view by presenting both the plaintiffs' allegations and the defendants' responses. It includes statements from the attorney representing the plaintiffs, Christen Civiletto, as well as the defense attorney, Harvey Sanders, who denies the allegations against his client. The story also covers the court's decision regarding the confidentiality of the audiotaped interviews. While the article does a good job of covering multiple perspectives, it could have benefited from additional voices, such as comments from the police officers allegedly involved or other lab employees, to provide a fuller picture.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a coherent narrative of the ongoing legal case. It effectively outlines the main allegations, the responses from the defense, and the court's rulings. However, the complexity of the legal proceedings and the specific allegations may be challenging for readers unfamiliar with legal terminology and processes. Simplifying some of the legal jargon and providing more background information could enhance clarity for a broader audience.

6
Source quality

The article relies heavily on statements from the attorneys involved in the lawsuit, which are credible sources for the claims being made. However, it lacks a diversity of sources, such as independent experts or third-party observers who could provide additional context or verification of the claims. The reliance on legal representatives may introduce some bias, as they are advocating for their clients' positions. Including more varied sources would strengthen the credibility and reliability of the reporting.

5
Transparency

The article is transparent about the source of its information, primarily citing the statements made during the court hearing and the amended complaint. However, it does not provide much detail on the methodology used to gather this information or any efforts made to verify the claims independently. The lack of transparency regarding the evidence supporting the allegations and the court's decisions on the confidentiality of the recordings limits the reader's ability to fully understand the context and implications of the case.

Sources

  1. https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/niagara-county-forensics-lab-nys-violations/71-ac2fcf53-ab51-4219-9f29-9f655146c09a
  2. https://trellis.law/doc/170708827/summons-complaint
  3. https://trellis.law/doc/203482546/affidavit-affirmation-in-opposition-to-motion-motion-1
  4. https://clpex.com/read.aspx?post=10123&title=Niagara-County-Forensic-Lab-Facing-Violations
  5. https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/niagara-county-sheriff-seeking-answers-after-notice-of-violation-from-commission-on-forensic-science