Saturday, August 06, 2016

Judge rules lawyers cannot leave lawsuit against Joplin police officer

A federal judge has rejected two lawyers' request to be removed from a lawsuit against a Joplin police officer and the City of Joplin.

In a ruling handed down Thursday in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Judge John T. Maughmer ordered Andrew B. Protzman and Christopher M. Sorenson of the Protzman Law Firm, Kansas City, to stay with the lawsuit, which was originally filed June 29 in Newton County Circuit Court by Cassie Tritthart, Miami, Oklahoma, "until such time as (they) show sufficiently good cause for withdrawal and/or until substitute counsel is assured or has occurred."

In a July 26 filing, Protzman said he and his client "have divergent views about the disposition of the underlying case. Plaintiff insists upon taking action that counsel have a fundamental disagreement with. Counsel can no longer effectively represent Plaintiff due to the divergent views of Plaintiff and counsel, and Plaintiff’s insistence upon taking action that counsel have a fundamental disagreement with."

Tritthart and Protzman had a telephone conversation about the case and could not agree, according to the motion.

In the lawsuit, Tritthart claimed that Joplin Police officer Seth Lugenbell punched her, kicked her, and fondled her breasts while arresting her at Mercy Hospital January 31.

More information about the case can be found at this link.

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