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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe four women who say they were groped at a bar by Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill have renewed their court challenges against him.
The women filed a lawsuit in Marion County court on July 7, claiming Hill committed battery against them during a March 2018 party at an Indianapolis bar and then defamed them with repeated claims that their allegations were false. Two days later, their attorneys filed their intention to appeal a federal judge’s decision dismissing a similar federal lawsuit filed last year.
Hill last month completed a 30-day suspension of his law license after the Indiana Supreme Court found “by clear and convincing evidence that (Hill) committed the criminal act of battery” against the women.
Hill has denied the allegations, but they were a key campaign issue against him when this month he lost the Republican attorney general nomination for his reelection to former U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita. His term runs through the end of the year.
U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson ruled in March that the women’s lawsuit didn’t describe a violation of federal law despite depicting “disgraceful and reprehensible conduct.”
Geoffrey Giorgi, a Crown Point attorney representing Hill, said Tuesday that the county court in Indianapolis was the proper place for the lawsuit over what happened at the party marking the end of the 2018 legislative session.
“Curtis HiIl will have his first opportunity to fully address, challenge, and defend the allegations presented against him on the merits,” Giorgi said. “We anticipate raising all legal defenses to this ongoing pursuit of litigation in multiple forums by the plaintiffs.”
The new lawsuit filed by Democratic state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon of Munster and three female legislative staffers seeks unspecified monetary damages from Hill and his retraction of defamatory statements.
Lawyers for the women didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment Tuesday.
Reardon testified during an October attorney disciplinary hearing that Hill, smelling of alcohol and with glassy eyes, was holding a drink in his right hand and put his left hand on her shoulder, then slid his hand down her dress to clench her buttocks. “A squeeze, a firm grasp,” she said.
The female legislative staffers—ages 23 to 26 at the time—testified that Hill inappropriately touched their backs or buttocks and made unwelcome sexual comments during the party.
The federal appeals court in Chicago has not yet taken any action regarding the women’s appeal on their original lawsuit, which was filed after a special prosecutor declined to file criminal charges against Hill.
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YAWN. Give it up, ladies (and I use the term loosely); you succeeded in getting him off the ballot for November. Be happy! (Really: Democrat women from the region ages 23-26 partying after hours with an attractive man in a downtown bar, a man soundly hated by their demographic; what could possibly go wrong?)
Money for the women. He should be suing them.
Bob P., typically ridiculous and this time despicable comments blaming the victims of sexual assault. Shame on you! You’re not even bothering to argue that it didn’t happen, but that they should have expected it since they went to a bar where he was at! And you “using the (ladies) term loosely is slut-shaming a victim. I pray you don’t have sons in which you’ve instilled these ancient attitudes.
They have lost once but still won’t let it go. Even one of their own female legislators cracked a hole about it when she accidentally put her hand on one of these women and said she hoped she wouldn’t be charged with battery.
That should read cracked a joke. Ibj fix it so we can edit comments.
Agree with editing comments one has already posted.
Four assaulted at once? Really?
It’s just another political witch hunt!
The courts have spoken in Hill’s favor more than once now. Controversy is on the “women’s” side as well.
With all the talk up late of supporting Hill for future higher office, this is why this frivolous lawsuit has come today.
It’s time for Hill to counter sue for harrassment at the very least!
Curtis Hill For Governor 2024!!!
Let it go, girls! The courts have already ruled in favor of Curtis Hill. You had your 5 minutes of fame, now get over it. In this day and age of strong women, I find it incredible to believe you got your butt groped and just stood there being a victim! Grow up. And if you can’t handle parties with alcohol, better stay home. You have succeeded in ruining a good man’s political career, so pat yourselves on your little sensitive backsides and move on.
I have a son. This bull worries me. Me Too to the extreme is about the potential to make some money. Curtis Hill for governor. Good idea Darrell. Maybe the “ladies” were vying for this good-looking guy and a piece of his butt. A school board member walked in
my classroom and said, “i want to F you.” Has disheveled and tie askew, he’d obviously had a few drinks. The social worker across the hall asked me what he was doing. We had a good laugh. It was absurd. Big deal,