News
Court Sides With Hocking County In Conspiracy Lawsuit
By: Marika Lee | The Logan Daily News
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Visiting Hocking County Common Pleas Court Judge Dale Crawford ruled in favor of Hocking County over a local woman who accused numerous officials of conspiracy.
The accusations come from Melanie Ogle of Rockbridge. The court granted the motion for summary judgment on the defendants, who include Hocking County Sheriff Lanny North and Hocking County Prosecutor Laina Fetherolf.
Ogle claims that North engaged in a conspiracy to trespass on her property when he authorized deputies to work off-duty hours as security for Ohio Power, who was doing electrical work on her property, according to court documents.
The court ruled in the county’s favor because Ogle failed to produce evidence of an unlawful act of independent civil conspiracy and the defendants are immune from liability as part of the Ohio Revised Code.
Ogle claimed that North acted outside of his abilities as sheriff by allowing the deputies to act as security guards. The court ruled North and the deputies were acting within the scope of their employment.
The court ruled that Ogle could not provide evidence that the deputies went outside the easement granted to Ohio Power.
Fetherolf, who also was accused of civil conspiracy, filed an affidavit in the case stating the only involvement she had was giving legal advice to North, as is required under the Ohio Revised Code.
Ogle tried to name new defendants in the case but did not identify them or their involvement in the conspiracy. The court denied the motion.
Ogle has the right to appeal the court’s decision.