IDAHO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ANNUAL REPORT OPINIONS SELECTED INFORMAL GUIDELINES CERTIFICATES OF REVIEW AND SELECTED ADVISORY LETTERS FOR THE YEAR 2008 Lawrence G. Wasden Attorney General Printed by The Caxton Printers, Ltd. Caldwell, Idaho This volume should be cited as: 2008 Idaho Att'y Gen. Ann. Rpt. Thus, the Official Opinion 08-1 is found at: 2008 Idaho Att'y Gen. Ann. Rpt. 5 Similarly, the Informal Guideline of January 7, 2008 is found at: 2008 Idaho Att'y Gen. Ann. Rpt. 63 Similarly, the Certificate of Review of January 29, 2008 is found at: 2008 Idaho Att'y Gen. Ann. Rpt. 93 The Advisory Letter of January 11, 2008 is found at: 2008 Idaho Att'y Gen. Ann. Rpt. 117 11 CONTENTS Roster of Attorneys General of Idaho ..............................v Introduction .................................................vii Roster of Staffof the Attorney General ............................ 1 Organizational Chart of the Office of the Attorney General ............2 Official Opinions-2008 ........................................5 Topic Index to Opinions ................................. 57 Table of Statutes Cited .................................. 58 Selected Informal Guidelines-2008 .............................63 Topic Index to Informal Guidelines ........................ 89 Table of Statutes Cited ..................................90 Certificates ofReview -2008 ................................... 93 Topic Index to Certificates of Review ..................... 113 Table of Statutes Cited ................................. 113 Selected Advisory Letters-2008 ............................... 117 Topic Index to Advisory Letters ......................... 159 Table of Statutes Cited ................................. 161 iii ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF IDAHO GEORGE H. ROBERTS ............ .".................. ·. 1891-1892 GEORGE M. PARSONS ................................18 93-1896 ROBERT McFARLAND ................................18 97-1 898 S. H. HAYS ...........................................18 99-1 900 FRANK MARTIN .....................................19 01-1902 JOHN A. BAGLEY ....................................19 04- 1 904 JOHN GUHEEN .......................................19 05 -1 908 D. C. McDOUGALL ...................................19 09-1912 JOSEPH H. PETERSON ................................1913 -1916 T. A. WALTERS .......................................1917 -1918 ROY L. BLACK .......................................1919 -1922 A. H. CONNER .......................................19 23-1926 FRANK L. STEPHAN ..................................19 27-1 928 W. D. GILLIS .........................................19 29-1 930 FRED J. BABCOCK ...................................19 31-1932 BERT H. MILLER .....................................19 33-1936 J. W. TAYLOR ........................................19 37-1940 BERT H. MILLER .....................................19 41-1944 FRANK LANGLEY ....................................19 45-1946 ROBERT AILSHIE (Deceased November 16) ...............19 47 ROBERT E. SMYLIE (Appointed November 24) .............19 47-1954 GRAYDON W. SMITH .................................19 55-1 958 FRANK L. BENSON ...................................19 59-1 962 ALLEN B. SHEPARD ..................................19 63-1968 ROBERT M. ROBSON .................................19 69 W. ANTHONY PARK ..................................19 70-1 974 WAYNE L. KIDWELL ..................................19 75-1 978 DAVID H. LEROY .....................................19 79-1 982 JIM JONES ...........................................19 83-1990 LARRY ECHOHAWK ..................................19 91-1994 ALAN G. LANCE .....................................19 95-2002 LAWRENCE G. WASDEN ..............................2003 - v Lawrence G. Wasden Attorney General Vl INTRODUCTION Dear Fellow Idahoan: Thank you for reviewing the 2008 annual report for the Office of the Attorney General. I am pleased to report that the Office continued to successfully represent the State of Idaho's legal interests in all legal matters. The year 2008 was an historical one for the Office as we successfully defended a challenge to an Idaho statute in the case of Ysursa v. Pocatello Education Association et al., which was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. Although the opinion was issued in the state's favor prior to the printing of this volume, the case was briefed and argued in the fall of 2008. The Ysursa case represents the very best aspects of both the practice of law and our judicial system. In July, the Governor and I, along with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), signed a settlement that provides a framework for removal of the most significant concentrations of buried nuclear waste. Most importantly, enforcement of the agreement remains with the Idaho Federal District Court. This settlement opens the door to a continued cooperative relationship between the State of Idaho and the Department of Energy. This Office continues to be asked to investigate and prosecute cases around the state. The Special Prosecutions Unit handled 129 cases from 22 counties at the request of county prosecutors or county commissioners. These included 19 cases of violent crimes and 17 public corruption cases. We have been successful in these prosecutions, and have worked very hard to ensure Idaho's citizens have a government in which they can place their trust. Our Consumer Protection Division recovered $932,000 for Idaho consumers and taxpayers. This Division also collected $2.9 million in civil penalties, fees and costs, which were deposited into the Consumer Protection account and legislatively appropriated for consumer protection and educational activities. Surplus funds were then transferred to the General Fund. At year-end 2008, our Office transferred more than $1 million to the General Fund. During 2008, attorneys in the Civil Litigation Division handled more than 870 cases -- 140 more than 2007. The Civil Litigation Division defended and advised the state's constitutional officers, represented 60 different departments and agencies, advised members of the judiciary, prosecuted cases before 28 different occupational licensing boards, defended over 70 employment claims and assisted in litigating natural resource and environmental claims. Our Intergovernmental and Fiscal Law Division handled 270 requests from legislators during the Legislative Session, providing them a written opinion, Vll generally within 48 hours. Certain of those legislative requests are included in this volume for your reference. As in past years, I encourage you to visit the Office of the Attorney General's website at http://www.ag.idaho.gov where you will find details about us, along with copies of all of our publications. Thank you for your support. - LAWRENCE G. WASDEN Attorney General Vlll ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LAWRENCE G. WASDEN ATTORNEY GENERAL 2008 STAFF ROSTER ADMINISTRATION Sherman F. Furey Ill Brian Kane Janet Carter Delayne Deck Chief Deputy Assistant Chief Deputy Executive Assistant Secretary/Receptionist DIVISION CHIEFS Tara Orr, Administration & Budget Stephen Bywater, Criminal Law Steven Olsen, Civil Litigation Jeanne Goodenough, Human Services Brett Delange, Consumer Protection William von Tagen, Intergovernmental & Fiscal Law S. Kay Christensen, Contracts & Administrative Law Clive Strong, Natural Resources DEPUTY ATTORNEYS GENERAL Rob Adelson James Carlson John Homan Kendal McDavitt Clay Smith Lawrence Allen Corey Cartwright Krista Howard John McKinney Theodore Spangler Stephanie Altig Doug Conde Donald Howell Michael McPeek Nicholas Spencer Stephanie Ammirati Alan Conilogue Blair Jaynes Kathleen McRoberts Marcy Spilker LaMont Anderson Andrea Courtney Joseph Jones Cheryl Meade David Stanish Kent Bailey Rebekah Cude Karin Jones Melissa Moody Steve Strack James Baird Timothy Davis Kenneth Jorgensen Michael Naethe Weldon Stutzman David Barber Thomas Donovan Angela Kaufmann Tyson Nelson Jennifer Swartz Jessica Barrett Peg Dougherty John Keenan Brian Nicholas Katherine Takasugi Garrick Baxter Darrell Early M. Scott Keim Marl< Olson Josh Taylor J. Kahle Becker Rosemary Emory S. Kilminster-Hadley Carl Olsson Thomas Tharp Courtney Beebe Lori Fleming Brent King Michael Orr Timothy Thomas Matthew Beeler Robert Follett Karl Klein Paul Panther Chris Topmiller Mary Jo Beig Roger Gabel Chris Kronberg Steve Parry Mitch Toryanski Brian Benjamin Cheryl George Lisa Kronberg James Price Melissa Vandenberg Nancy Bishop Michael Gilmore Marl< Kubinski Neil Price Steve Vinsonhaler Jennifer Birken Larry Goins Deena Layne Phillip Rassier Karl Vogt Craig Bledsoe Patrick Grace William Loomis Whitaker Riggs Julie Weaver Randee Blessing Jennifer Grunke Jessica Lorello Kenneth Robins Justin Whatcott Ralph Blount Joanna Guilfoy Robert Luce Tracey Rolfsen Peggy White Daniel Bower Stephanie Guyon Emily Mac Master Kristine Sasser Ann Wilkinson Chris Bromley Susan Hamlin Karin Magnelli Jeffrey Schrader Marl<Wrthers Dallas Burkhalter Harriet Hensley Joseph Mallet Steve Schuster Brian Wonderlich Cheri Bush Jane Hochberg Rene Martin Erick Shaner Scott Woodbury Scot Campbell David Young INVESTIGATORS Michael Dillon, Chief Scott Birch Jim Kouril Tawni Limesand Scott Smith PARALEGALS Rachel Balcerzak Vicki Kelly Lori Peel Jean Rosenthal Kathie Brack Marlene Klein Barbara Prinzing Victoria Rutledge Suzy Cooley-Denney Sandra McCue Julie Raichart Beccie Stange Debbi Judd Bernice Myles Renea Ridgeway Ray Williams Paula Wilson NON-LEGAL PERSONNEL Christine Allbritton Renee Chariton Traci Hossfeld