Dekalb washing hands of responsibility in Brown's death

DECATUR - DeKalb County officials said Monday they bear no responsibility in the shooting death of Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown. <br> <br> Officials called a news conference in reaction to an intention by Brown&#39;s widow, Phyllis Brown, to pursue a wrongful death suit against the county. <br> <br> Brown was gunned down in his driveway on December 15, 2000 -- just days before he was to take office. <br> <br> Last week, a jury convicted former Sheriff Sidney Dorsey on murder and corruption charges in connection with Brown&#39;s death. <br> <br> Phyllis Brown&#39;s attorney -- Steven Leibel -- announced in December that she was considering asking for $50 million in damages based on charges that her husband was killed by sheriff&#39;s office employees. <br> <br> County Attorney Charles Hicks wrote Leibel on April 15 saying the county had chosen not to seek a resolution or settlement. Hicks said in May there was no evidence that the county has a legal responsibility for Brown&#39;s death and called the Brown family&#39;s claim ``not legally viable.&#39;&#39;