ANDERSON, Ind. —
Mayor Kris Ockomon has filed a lawsuit against Teresa Spencer claiming false statements she made that resulted in damage to Ockomon.
Spencer filed a federal suit against the mayor, the city of Anderson, personnel director Steve Priser and parks director John Gates on July 27, claiming sexual discrimination and retaliation.
Ockomon’s suit, filed Thursday afternoon, said Spencer “provided false and unprivileged statements to the media and general public, orally and in writing. ... The false light in which (Ockomon) was placed is highly offensive to a reasonable person and (Spencer) has actual knowledge or acted in reckless disregard as to the falsity of the publicized matters and the false light in which (Ockomon) would be placed.”
Fredrick Spencer, Teresa Spencer’s attorney and father-in-law, said he was aware of the suit but took issue with it.
“The main thrust of the complaint is he believes Teresa leaked information about her claim to the newspaper,” he said. “Teresa didn’t do it. He’s suing the wrong person.” He added that “the complaint reminds me of the sort of thing my neighbor’s dog leaves in the yard.”
Ockomon is seeking unspecified damages for defamation and a jury trial, according to the suit.
The mayor issued a “no comment” to The Herald Bulletin, deferring to his attorney, Daniel Whitehead.
Whitehead explained that the lawsuit gives Ockomon the right to discovery. He said he will meet with the federal attorneys next week to discuss the discovery process.
“I believe the information needs to be looked at,” he said.
Whitehead said there were a number of people mentioned in Spencer’s lawsuit and he believed those people, when interviewed, will disavow any support for Spencer.
“I’ll get a deposition on everyone. The majority of the people won’t side with Spencer.”
Whitehead said that Teresa Spencer could not have filed a federal lawsuit by herself.
“She could not have drafted it,” he said. “Federal law is complicated. Somebody is behind it.”
Whitehead said he intends to get to the truth through discovery.
The suit was filed in Madison Circuit Court 3. Whitehead said it was Ockomon’s intent to keep the case local and allow the public to see the case unfold.
He said Teresa Spencer will have about three weeks to respond to the lawsuit after which time the discovery process begins.
“If this is the only way to get everyone at the table at the same time, that’s what we’re doing,” Whitehead said.
Contact Steve Dick: 640-4863, steve.dick@heraldbulletin.com
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