Police chief sues Goguen claiming he attempted to get him fired

The Whitefish chief of police has sued Whitefish businessman and philanthropist Michael Goguen over claims Goguen tried to get the longtime law officer fired from his job.

Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial filed a lawsuit Dec. 16 in Flathead County District Court, detailing Goguen’s alleged attempts to derail a 2017 criminal investigation that resulted in the firing of a Whitefish Police Department lead detective.

The complaint alleges that when Goguen learned the detective had been fired and he wasn’t able to secure favoritism with the Whitefish Police Department, Goguen engaged in a variety of retaliatory conduct, aimed at maliciously, intentionally and purposefully interfering with Dial’s economic interests and employment with the department.

The suit also said Goguen had attempted to intimidate Dial by conducting surveillance on him and his family.

The complaint alleges that earlier this year Goguen met with the mayor, city manager and city attorney for the city of Whitefish, and demanded that Dial be fired and threatened to sue the city for millions of dollars if the city didn’t fire Dial.

Dial alleges that Goguen befriended the detective, had the investigator to his home in Flathead County for dinner, donated money to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that would have created a job specifically for the lead detective, and took the investigator on an all-expense paid elk hunt in Colorado on his private jet, all at the time the criminal investigation was supposed to be occurring.

The complaint does not provide details regarding the criminal investigation.

Dial’s lawsuit also asserts that Goguen’s conduct caused the lead detective to fail in his duties and responsibilities to fairly and neutrally investigate the case. It also alleges Goguen’s conduct caused the detective to fail to open any report, failed to properly investigate the matter, turned a blind eye to potential crimes and failed to document several communications he had with Goguen that were related to the investigation.

Further, the lawsuit claims, Goguen hired and paid an attorney to falsely and wrongfully slander as well as libel Dial with the city. The suit also indicates that Goguen allegedly hired the same attorney to file false and wrongful complaints against Dial with the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Bureau in an attempt to injure his reputation and continue to serve as a police officer.

Dial accuses Goguen of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, interfering with his employment, libel, slander and defamation and abuse of process.

Dial is seeking actual, compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial, as well as costs and expenses of the suit and any other relief deemed just.

Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, noting the city was notified that Dial had filed a lawsuit against Goguen.

“The lawsuit was brought in Chief Dial’s personal capacity and NOT on behalf of the City of Whitefish,” Smith said, adding that Dial has retained a private law firm to represent him and will prosecute the lawsuit on his own time and with his own resources.

Dial is represented by Hammer, Quinn & Shaw PLLC of Kalispell.

According to a representative in the Flathead County Clerk of Court, Goguen had not been served the lawsuit as of Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier this year, a California arbitrator dismissed a civil breach-of-contract suit against Goguen that alleged he had “sexually, physically and emotionally” abused his accuser, Amber Baptiste. Retired judge Read Ambler dismissed the breach-of-contract suit Sept. 12 after Baptiste repeatedly refused to comply with court orders, missed multiple medical examinations and court appearances and compromised Goguen’s ability to prepare for trial.

Goguen made his fortune as a venture capitalist in California and has a residence on the west shore of Whitefish Lake. He was the sole funder of the Two Bear Air rescue helicopter service and provided major funding to the Whitefish Trail system and the North Valley Food Bank, among other donations. Goguen serves on the board of trustees for Kalispell Regional Healthcare. He was also the sole investor in Casey’s Bar and Grill in downtown Whitefish.