Woman sues Dasen, business

A woman charged in the prostitution case of Dick Dasen Sr. is suing him and Budget Finance, claiming he coerced sexual favors from her.

Rhonda "Nikki" Hawk, 26, wants compensation for negligence, infliction of emotional distress, conspiracy, and sexual assault and battery.

Her suit names Dasen, unnamed people "Does 1-5" and Budget Finance, a lending institution for which Dasen was a controlling shareholder.

Dasen, 62, is scheduled for trial Jan. 24 on charges of promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, sexual intercourse without consent and sexual abuse of children.

Hawk is charged with prostitution. She is scheduled for trial on Feb. 10.

In her suit, which was initially sealed by the court, Hawk alleges that from July 2000 to January 2001, Dasen paid Hawk's bills through his business called Christian Counseling.

Other allegations from the lawsuit include:

- In January 2001, Dasen demanded that Hawk buy a manufactured home through Budget Finance. He co-signed the note.

- In April 2001, when Hawk was unable to make payments on the home, Dasen demanded she pose for nude photographs in exchange for keeping the payments on the home current, Hawk asserts.

- In December 2001, when she was still unable to make the payments, Dasen demanded sex for making her payments.

That continued until October 2003, the suit says.

Filed by attorney Linda Semrow of Kalispell, the lawsuit says that "the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000," not including costs and attorney's fees.

Dasen's acts were committed with "actual malice" and "actual fraud," according to the suit, so punitive damages should be awarded.

Budget should have known that Dasen was engaging in the scheme to secure illicit sexual favors, the suit says.

District Judge Kitty Curtis unsealed the file Tuesday at a Daily Inter Lake reporter's request, saying there was no reason to keep the lawsuit secret.