Sheriffs

Former Wood County Sheriff’s Deputy Wins Sanctions in Lawsuit Against County Commission and Sheriff’s Department

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PARKERSBURG, West Virginia – A former Wood County Sheriff’s deputy has won a motion for sanctions against the County Commission and Sheriff’s Department for failing to provide requested materials for review in her lawsuit. Pleasants County Circuit Judge Timothy L. Sweeney, who is presiding over the case, also ruled that an adverse jury instruction will be allowed regarding lost or destroyed materials. The legal battle between former Wood County Sheriff’s Sgt. Della Matheny and the commission, department, and former Sheriff Steve Stephens began in November. Matheny alleges that Stephens harassed female employees, created a hostile … Read more

Oklahoma Sheriff’s Lawsuit Against District Attorney Faces Potential Dismissal Due to Improper Service and Missing Summons

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Pawhuska, Oklahoma – Members of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s staff have filed a motion in Osage County District Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden against District Attorney Mike Fisher. The lawsuit, which was filed last October, accused Fisher of defamation and interference with an investigation. It also made allegations about the sale of a downtown Pawhuska building. Virden’s legal action came in response to Fisher’s request for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate probe into the 1976 disappearance of a teenage girl. Fisher had … Read more

West Texas Rural Sheriffs Take a Stand: Halting Enforcement of Controversial Immigration Law

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Culberson County, a rural area in West Texas, may see a limited enforcement of its controversial immigration law by local sheriffs. This comes as the debate over immigration in the United States continues to divide communities. The law in question, known as Senate Bill 4 (SB4), allows local law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they detain or arrest. It also penalizes local officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. However, several sheriffs in Culberson County have expressed concerns about the law and its potential impact on their communities. Sheriffs … Read more

Federal Judge Allows Punitive Damages in Lawsuit Against Trumbull County Commissioners and Sheriff’s Office

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Warren, Ohio – Trumbull County commissioners and members of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office may face individual liability for punitive damages in a lawsuit brought by Commissioner Niki Frenchko, according to U.S. District Judge Philip Calabrese’s recent order. The judge’s ruling stated that if the case goes to trial, a jury could find that Sheriff Paul Monroe, county Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa, former Commissioner Frank Fuda, and two sheriff’s office sergeants conspired to have Frenchko arrested during a commissioners meeting in July 2022. The lawsuit, filed on Frenchko’s behalf by attorneys David Betras and Matt Miller-Novak, … Read more