Thursday, October 8, 2009

Protective Order Against Seattle Port Commissioner Withdrawn

Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton has reached an out-of-court settlement with an ex-girlfriend who accused him of stalking her and had received a protective order against him from the King County Superior Court.

Creighton's attorney verified to the Seattle Times that a settlement had been reached that called for ex-girlfriend Susan Robinet to withdraw a Sept. 10 petition filed with the Superior Court alleging the commissioner had sent nearly 90 unwanted text messages to her within one week and threatened uninvited personal contact.

In the petition, Robinet said she felt like Creighton was "stalking" her and that she "feared" for her safety.

Robinet withdrew the petition on Sept. 24. She told the Seattle Times that she did so after receiving a $5,000 payment from Creighton and a written agreement that he would have no further contact with her.

The newspaper confirmed that Robinet had deposited a $5,000 check on Sept. 24, the day she asked the court to withdraw the petition.

Creighton's attorney, while acknowledging the settlement, would not comment on the $5,000 payment or a "memorandum of understanding" that outlines the terms of the settlement.

Seattle Times staff reviewed the text messages allegedly sent by Creighton and said that they were accurately described in Robinet's original petition. The newspaper also viewed the so-called MOU, but noted that it was only signed by Robinet.