The attorney for Indianapolis City-County Council President Stephen Clay says the lawsuit filed against him by his fellow Councilmembers is a “smear campaign” intended to “belittle the defendant” by “filing a frivolous lawsuit meant to divert attention away from the public business”.
Indy attorney Linda Pence Wednesday filed the response to the lawsuit filed by nine city-county councilors to put on hold Clay’s firing of the former Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and Council attorney.
Pence says the councilors who filed suit against Clay have not suffered any injuries that the Court could rectify.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON INDIANA’S POLITICAL CLIMATE. TAKE OUR INDY POLITICS POLL
She argues that former clerk Natrina DeBow has not exhausted any of her other avenues to get her job back, including having the Council take a vote to reinstate her.
She also maintains the former Council attorney Fred Biesecker undermined Clay’s authority as President and accused him of colluding with the councilors who wanted him removed. The complaint also says Biesecker made disparaging remarks about Clay, so his removal was proper.
A hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.
A copy of the response can be found here.
