Convicted murderer Christopher Fiegehen has not issued a response to a lawsuit filed by Johnson Lane resident Lorelle Chorkey, who is seeking damages for the death of her husband and her own injuries.
Fiegehen had 20 days to respond to the summons issued to him Feb. 6 after Chorkey filed the civil lawsuit in Douglas County District Court.
Fiegehen is serving two consecutive life sentences without parole in Ely at the Nevada State Prison for the Feb. 10, 2002, murder of Al Chorkey.
He also received two consecutive sentences of 96 to 240 months for attempted murder with a deadly weapon and two consecutive sentences of 72 to 180 months for home invasion with possession of a firearm.
Three claims in the lawsuit ask for damage amounts of $10,000 or more. In February, Chorkey's attorney, Kenneth Lyon, said $10,000 is a minimum figure needed to enter the lawsuit in district court.
"I fully expect there to be a judgment well above $10,000," he said.
Because Fiegehen did not respond to the summons, the lawsuit will likely result in a default judgment.
"In a default judgment we would go down and have a hearing with the court to prove the damages, determine a damage figure and issue a judgment that would be recorded and pursued."
A default judgment is a decision made by the court when the person being sued fails to respond.
Lyon said Fiegehen would be solely responsible for the damages awarded to Chorkey in, and because Fiegehen is in prison the judgments may never be paid.
"We recognize there may be no means of collecting on any judgment but we thought it was the right thing to do," he said. "Mrs. Chorkey has very severe injuries as a result of what happened."
Contact Maggie O'Neill at mo'neill@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 214.
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