Independence settles lawsuit with former mayor for $50,000

INDEPENDENCE - The City of Independence settled a lawsuit last week with the former mayor for $50,000, which could be a record for the fastest settlement of a civil suit in Iowa.

The city council approved the settlement about two weeks after former Mayor Carl Scharff filed the lawsuit against the city and former police officer David Winger in Buchanan County District Court. Scharff claimed Winger set him up to be arrested for drunken driving in 2013, according to the lawsuit.

Thomas Frerichs, Scharff's attorney, said Monday he didn't know why the city settled so quickly, but it was likely based on the strength of Scharff's case against them. Frerichs said Scharff was happy with the outcome. Scharff never wanted to harm the city, he just wanted to shed light on Winger's actions, Frerichs said.

According to the lawsuit, Winger, while employed as a police officer, enlisted his girlfriend Mikeala Voshell to set up Scharff by asking him to meet her, ply him with alcohol, and then call Winger to pull over the mayor for drunken driving. The suit claimed Winger came up with the scheme to have Scharff removed from office for misconduct, or to cause a scandal that would prevent Scharff from being re-elected.

Scharff asked for damages in the suit, claiming his due process was violated, evidence was withheld, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false arrest, and malicious prosecution. According to the lawsuit, Scharff and Winger have been involved in a long-standing feud.