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LISBON -- A Lisbon man acquitted of a domestic violence charge has now filed a civil lawsuit in Common Pleas Court seeking monetary damages for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.
An attorney on behalf of Timothy Clark, Glenn Road, filed the lawsuit this week against Danielle Menning, an assistant county prosecutor at county Municipal Court; two deputies, Kevin Walker and Luke Skidmore; as well as Sheriff Brian McLaughlin as the successor to Ray Stone.
According to the lawsuit, Clark was charged with a misdemeanor domestic violence on June 15, 2020, taken into custody by the two deputies, placed in handcuffs and remained in the county jail until the next day when he was able to post a $10,000 bond. Clark additionally claims he was verbally abused by the deputies.
Clark alleges the deputies falsely arrested him in violation of his constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures, filed false charges against him and maliciously prosecuted him. On Oct. 28, 2020, a Municipal Court jury found him not guilty.
Attorney Lawrence Stacey, who filed the lawsuit, states Menning continued to prosecute Clark even after the alleged victim in the domestic violence case, Ashlee Coontz, had testified at a motion hearing.
Stacey had questioned, "At no time did he strike you, no time did he push you, no time did he do anything except react to your aggressive move to remove an item of personal property out of his pocket, correct?"
"Correct," she reportedly responded.
The lawsuit further alleges Menning provided a copy of the transcript of that hearing to attorney Kelly Linger, who was representing Coontz in a civil custody matter regarding the child of Coontz and Clark. This action, according to the lawsuit, inserted Menning wrongly into the civil matter.
County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit.
"The events that gave rise to the complaint filed by Mr. Clark pre-date my taking office, and it isn't proper to comment on ongoing litigation," Abruzzino said. "However, I trust the court system will do what it's designed to do and find the truth of the matter in due time."
McLaughlin also briefly commented on the actions of the deputies.
"Our deputies acted as the law requires us to," McLaughlin said.
The lawsuit seeks in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits that would compensate Clark for injuries and damages, including for the alleged damage to his reputation and integrity.
djohnson@mojonews.com