Man sues city of Parkersburg, mayor, chief of police - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Man sues city of Parkersburg, mayor, chief of police

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By Andrea Lannom - email

  • Law

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A Wood County man is seeking $12 million in a suit against the city of Parkersburg after he says the mayor and chief of police conducted illegal background checks and defamed him.

The suit, originally filed June 4 in Wood County Circuit Court by Joseph K. Backus, was removed to federal court July 2.

In his one-paragraph suit, Backus asserts his First, Fourth and 14th amendment rights were violated when, as he alleges in the suit, Mayor Robert Newell and Chief of Police Joseph Martin conducted "illegal" background checks and libeled him by providing his personal information to Parkersburg media outlets.

In their July 3 response, Newell and Martin denied allegations, asserting Backus is not "factually legally or equitably entitled to any relief."

The answer also said the city's actions were rational and "in furtherance of a legitimate governmental interest." City officials' response additionally asserted any information disseminated was truthful.