11/27/2024

ASHLAND - A lawsuit brought against former legislator Janet Bewley has been dismissed.

The wrongful death suit was filed by Brandon Fink, on behalf of his young daughter, 5-year-old Khaleesi Fink, who, along with her mother, died in a crash involving Bewley and another vehicle. Fink sued Bewley, Jodi Munson-the other driver and Alyssa Ortman, his child’s mother and the insurers for unspecified damages. Ortman was driving a car that belonged to her father, an Ashland resident at the time of the crash. She was also traveling at almost 100 mph and was found to have Delta 9 THC, a controlled substance, in her bloodstream. Bewley was speaking on her cellphone at the time of the crash and had undergone cataract surgery the day before. A blood test on Bewley did not find any alchohol or drugs. After reviewing the case, it was deemed that the state could not meet the burden of proof necessary to qualify the unfortunate accident as a crime. The case was dismissed without cost to either Bewley or Ortman’s estate. A settlement between parties has been reached.