By Daily News Staff

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Lincoln County will pay the federal government $80,000 to resolve a lawsuit that claims it fraudulently billed the government for child support services.

According to Erik Peterson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Lincoln County is not admitting wrongdoing by agreeing to pay the money and the federal government is not conceding that its claims are not well founded.

According to Peterson, between 1997 and 2006 Lincoln County submitted claims for reimbursement to the federal government for costs allegedly incurred under a child support program called IV-D. Under the program, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services disburses monies to the states for the purpose of enforcing child support laws.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims Lincoln County billed the federal government for the full wages of a lawyer and others in its corporation counsel’s office it claimed worked full-time on child support and paternity cases. An investigation later showed the lawyer, and others, were not working solely on child support matters during the relevant timeframe, according to Peterson.

“This billing resulted in the United States paying for services which it never received,” Peterson said.

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Taxpayer wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:15 PM: " I don't know what the prob is Deb. I'd pay $25 for a $500 check anytime. Where's the line? " Renee wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:58 AM: " Deb Dillenberg, I think you could re-direct your anger better and be a great role model to your kids by GOING BACK TO SCHOOL. Your spelling and lack of punctuation are atrocious! " deb dillenberg wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:31 AM: " Pretty sneaky and rotten on Lincoln Countys so called employees, but now we mothers that do get child support are expected to pay $25 for a $500 check received. MMMMM take it out of a babes mouth to cover the county butt. Discusting!!!! Especially when they let fathers (and mothers) get away with not paying for so long and, as a Judge in one case has said, let the (dead beat)father get on his feet. (FOR THE THIRD TIME).To heck with the child and mothers bills building up with interest. MMMM how rotten!! " The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.

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