Media Advisory

(Pierre) – Several companies will be receiving special recognition from Attorney General Mark Barnett this week. Barnett will be handing out “Good Samaritan” awards to companies for their acts of kindness to the victims of Sioux Falls attorney Steve Palmer.  

Palmer is currently serving a ten year sentence for stealing several hundred thousand dollars from his clients. The money Palmer embezzled was supposed to be used to pay his clients’ bills. Now creditors are trying to collect money from Palmer’s victims. At the request of Attorney General Mark Barnett, the companies receiving the “Good Samaritan” awards dropped their claims against Palmer’s victims.  The media is invited to the awards ceremony that will be held on Friday, January 11, 2002, at the Sioux Falls Holiday Inn City Centre, in the Embassy III room. The event will start at 11am. 

Companies receiving the award include, Avera McKennan Hospital, Hagen Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Mark P. Hagen, Humana Insurance Company, John Morrell, LeMars Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa, Medical X-Ray Center, PC, Orthofix, Inc., Orthopedic Institute, Prairie Lakes Health Care System, Prudential Financial, Dr. Terry L. Seeman, Sioux Valley Health Plan, Three Rivers Benefit Corporation, Unitrin Property and Casualty, and Van Demark Orthopedic Specialists.

-30-