SEND LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY

Here's an unusual turn of events in a real-life heist yarn:

Bank sues for cash from heist

FARGO — A bank that lost $331,000 in an armored car heist in Bismarck earlier this year wants the money back.

U.S. National Bank Association has filed a lawsuit against North Dakota armored car company Alpha 6, Inc., and insurance carrier Lloyds of London. The bank is seeking restitution from the Feb. 23 theft in which two cash bags were picked up from the bank’s north branch in Bismarck, but never delivered to the main branch.

Authorities said the cash has not been recovered.

Matthew Fiechtner, Michael Link and Nathan Tuenge are charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and bank larceny. Fiechtner and Tuenge have both pleaded guilty. Link is scheduled for trial in March.

Fiechtner and Tuenge told a judge they spent the money, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hagler said.

Spent the money? On what, hookers and booze? Actually, knowing today's youth, they probably blew it on video games and smart phones with 4G internet.

As for the lawsuit, the bank is going to have to prove that Alpha 6 had actual or constructive notice that they had crooks working for them, or that the company had engaged in negligent hiring practices.

The U.S. Bank lawsuit accuses Alpha 6 of negligence for the way it hired, trained and supervised its employees. The armored car company breached its contract by failing to perform criminal background checks on its employees, the lawsuit said.

Court documents show that Link was on probation for felony theft.

OK, I guess they may have a case here. But Alpha 6's response is kind of interesting:

Alpha 6 denies that it failed to conduct a background check on “the employee responsible for this theft” and said the company is not responsible for the incident.

So, are they denying that Link had a felony record? Or are they saying that hiring a guy with a felony theft conviction to work for an armored car company is OK as long as you do a background check on him first?

Then again, maybe the implication is that Link is innocent. I guess if he's acquitted, the company has a better shot of beating the lawsuit. That makes me wonder if they're paying for his attorney.

And speaking of lawyers, guns and money: