The city has filed a motion in federal district court to dismiss a lawsuit claiming Columbus and Lowndes County law enforcement officers persecuted the Fuhgetaboutit downtown bar.
Bar owner Freddie Fields is seeking an undetermined amount of money for what he alleges is unfair treatment by police and metro narcotics officers.
In his Aug. 27 complaint, Fields complained of unlawful raids, accusations of selling narcotics, accusations of pimping, accusations of selling liquor after hours, and accusations of selling liquor to minors.
Also named in the lawsuit were Columbus-Lowndes Metro Narcotics Unit officers David Criddle and John Duke, who are accused of defamation.
But according to the recent motion, the complaint is vague and improperly cites city and county law enforcement agencies.
The police department and the sheriff”s office are departments of the city and county governments, meaning the governments, not the agencies, can be sued, the motion points out.
And because the complaint does not name officers with the police and sheriff”s departments, Duke and Criddle are the only proper defendants, the motion adds.
The motion is added to that of Lowndes County, which has filed a motion asking Fields to clarify his lawsuit.
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