Clarification

The headline and lead paragraph of The Nugget story "Judge denies attorney's fees in SCID suit" (The Nugget, October 23, page 17) overstated the scope of the judge's ruling.

No court order has been issued denying attorney's fees in the case between the Cyrus family of Sisters and the Squaw Creek Irrigation District.

Judge Stephen Tiktin ruled earlier this month that a May 7, 1999, letter from Cyrus family attorney Michael Peterkin to Squaw Creek Irrigation District attorney Greg Lynch "is not sufficient to entitle plaintiffs to ... attorney fees if they ultimately obtain a money judgment for conversion."

A separate May 4 letter remains at issue.

"Plaintiffs (Cyrus) contend an appropriate written demand was made on or about May 4, 1999.

"Defendant (SCID) denies receiving such a communication.

"There is a question of fact about whether this occurred," Tiktin wrote in his ruling.

"The May 4 letter is still at issue and will be heard and we are confident that we will prevail," Peterkin told The Nugget.

SCID attorney Lynch said that "that May 4 letter that Peterkin alluded to doesn't appear anywhere in this case."