Federal Judge Edward Shea plans to start the first trial for defendants accused of Hanford timecard fraud next month, but which of the defendants will be tried first remains unknown. Shea said in Eastern Washington Federal District court Tuesday that he would decide after a Sept. 8 hearing which defendants will go to trial later that month. He plans to hold three trials for a total of nine defendants, all of whom held management or supervisory positions over workers who admitted falsifying overtime on timecards. Workers under former tank farm contractor CH2M Hill Hanford Group were routinely offered overtime shifts in eight-hour increments. They would go home when the work was completed, but claim the full eight hours on their timecards, according to court documents.
Two radiological control supervisors had been scheduled to go to trial in July as part of the first group, but Glenda Davis pleaded guilty and the trial for the remaining radiological control supervisor was postponed until after a closed-door competency hearing Tuesday. Stephanie Livesey’s attorney said she has been too distraught after the May death of her son to help with her defense. The judge told the second group of defendants after the competency hearing that they should be prepared to go to trial in September, in case Livesey does not. The group includes five former supervisors. One has asked that the trial date be postponed because Davis is now a cooperating witness for the prosecution and more time is needed to prepare. The final group of defendants includes three upper managers and a date for their trial has not been set.
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