Former Ludlow City Council Member Lori Davenport is suing the city, two Ludlow Police officers and several city leaders in federal court.
Davenport is alleging retaliation for constitutionally protected speech, false arrest and malicious prosecution, essentially alleging a violation of her rights under the First and Fourth amendments to the Constitution.
The suit stems from Davenport’s arrest at a city council meeting about a year ago. Court documents show that Davenport was initially charged with obstructing governmental operations, a charge that was amended down to disrupting meetings and processions. The charges were later dropped altogether.
The specific defendants in the suit are the city itself, current Mayor Sarah Thompson, current City Council Member Julia Terry Navarre (both are being sued as individuals), Ludlow Police Officer Justin Edwards, Ludlow Police Chief Bartholomew Beck and Patrick Grote, an attorney who assisted in running the meeting last August when Davenport was arrested.
“By the moment of arrest, any disruption attributable to Ms. Davenport had ceased,” reads the complaint. “She had voluntarily complied with the implicit direction to leave. A person walking out of a meeting is not obstructing it.”
Davenport did not have any additional comments, but Jeff Mando, who is representing everyone but Grote in the case, said “we believe there was probable cause” for Davenport’s arrest.
“We intend to fiercely defend the suit,” said Mando. “Her obstruction is the source of the damages she claims to suffer.”
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky’s Northern Division on Friday, Aug. 14. You can read Davenport’s complaint below.
