TOWN TAXI SERVICE PERMITS IN LIMBO

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 13, 1992                   TAG: 9202130217
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Short
TOWN TAXI SERVICE PERMITS IN LIMBO
Pulaski's Ordinance Committee will make no recommendation to Town Council next week on whether to approve permits for 17 of the town's 22 taxis.
Council had approved the 17 permits for Blue & White Cabs and its subsidiary, Deluxe Cabs, in December on a temporary basis pending the outcome of felony charges against owner Verlin Chrisley.
Chrisley pleaded guilty Jan. 28 to abducting his wife at gunpoint and drew a two-year jail sentence, which he will start serving Feb. 28.
Herman Largen, former owner of the cabs, said he had sold the franchise to Chrisley in 1986 and was now seeking to reclaim it because he was not paid.
Chrisley said he felt Largen had been paid, and that he went through the motions of selling the franchise because Largen was convicted of Medicaid fraud involving overpayments for hauling Medicaid recipients.
Chrisley said he simply drew a salary of $4 an hour and that Largen had continued to handle things. Council had been unaware of all this when it approved the permits annually for the cabs since then.
Randolph Eley, Largen's attorney, said the charge was reduced to petty larceny and that Largen repaid $4,166 under contention. He said Largen and Chrisley are working out a settlement to avoid a court hearing Friday.
"Well, I'm about to decide not to try and settle it," Chrisley said.
Following two closed sessions to discuss the legal aspects of the matter, the committee decided to tell the full council what the circumstances were but to make no recommendation.
Largen said that, if the permits are approved, he will have someone else keep the Medicaid trip records.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB