Bookkeeper faces lawsuit

SANDPOINT — Hefty damages are being sought against the former bookkeeper for a Sandpoint property maintenance company accused of misappropriating funds and business assets.

Northwest Property Maintenance filed suit against Patricia A. Amstutz in 1st District Court on July 2.

The company’s counsel, Angela Marshall, cites a half-dozen causes of action against Amstutz, including theft, embezzlement, fraud and negligence. Each cause of action seeks in excess of $10,000 in damages.

Amstutz, now a co-owner of the Sunshine Center, a Sandpoint daycare center, did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations against her. Amstutz has not yet filed an answer to the civil complaint and it’s unclear who her legal counsel is.

Amstutz, 60, was hired by the Northwest Property Maintenance to do accounting and bookkeeping for the company, which does year-round upkeep for landowners.

The suit alleges Amstutz failed to prepare taxes, make deposits and perform other bookkeeping tasks. It further claims that Amstutz diverted company funds to herself and a relative and sought to cover up the embezzlement by doctoring or disposing of business records. Northwest maintains Amstutz also misrepresented the company’s financial security.

Northwest’s owner, Diane Evans, said that Amstutz’s handling of the company’s finances had caused “thousands of dollars in overdraft charges alone.”