FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CIV
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1997                              (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


                          MEDIA ADVISORY

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department's Office of
Professional Responsibility today released a report regarding
allegations of misconduct against government attorneys in Barbara
Palmer v. United States, a Federal Tort Claims Act case filed in
1993 in Covington, Kentucky.  The report concluded the
allegations were unfounded.

     The report examined allegations that the government did not
properly respond after learning that an employee of the Veterans
Administration may have destroyed documents relevant to the case. 
The report concluded that the government's attorneys promptly
investigated the allegation, properly notified the Court and
opposing counsel of the allegations, and did not commit
professional misconduct.

     A summary of the report issued by the Office of Professional
Responsibility is available at the Office of Public Affairs at
the Department of Justice.
           
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97-212