Attorney seeks to
move Withers suit
Byline: C.G.
Wallace
Published:
10/03/96
The civil attorney for retired
Dr. LaVar Withers is asking a judge to move a civil suit against the doctor from
Bingham County to Madison County.
The suit was filed by five women who are seeking $25,000 in damages each for the
doctor's unlawful touching during his 30 years as a practicing Rexburg doctor.
Attorney Jeremiah Quane, of Boise, took on the suit two weeks ago, and filed the
motion to move the suit at that time, he said. A hearing on whether the motion
will be granted has been scheduled for Oct. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in Bingham County.
When asked why he filed the motion, Quane said, I felt like it, I did it for the
fun of it." He concluded that it was none of your damn business."
The suit was filed two days after the doctor was sentenced on behalf of the
doctor's known and not-yet-known victims. The 117 women who said they were
victims at the time of the sentencing were contacted by attorney Dan Hawkley. He
filed the suit against Withers after wrapping up work on the criminal case
against the doctor. At the last count, 138 total victims have come forward with
claims that Withers fondled them during doctor's visits, according to the Idaho
Falls Rape Response Center.
Withers pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to one count of misdemeanor battery spanning 30
years. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which he is now serving in Madison
County. He could serve 30 more days at the court's discretion.
