Fayette County, PA

Fayette County, PA: (Aug-15-07) Michael and Maria Cavanagh brought a civil lawsuit against the county, alleging civil rights violations, assault and battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of mental distress. Cavanagh filed the suit in 2005; two years after two county adult probation officers picked him up in Morgantown, WV, to start serving his 2 to 23-month prison term for insurance fraud. In addition to the county; the officers, James Williams Jr. and Raymond Miller; and chief adult probation officer Lou Lozar were named in the suit. Maria Cavanagh had a claim for loss of companionship because of her husband's injuries. When it was first filed, the suit also named Common Pleas Judge Ralph C. Warman, whom Cavanagh alleged ordered the probation officers to take him into custody. Warman, who presided over Cavanagh's criminal trial, was dismissed from the suit when a federal judge ruled that he was immune from being sued.

In a settlement reached, the county agreed to pay $75,000 to resolve the lawsuit. Though the Cavanaghs tentatively agreed to the $75,000 settlement, they indicated that there were additional terms to be worked out. [HERALD STANDARD: IMPRISONMENT RIGHTS]

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Published on Aug-16-07