NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — A lawsuit filed by the mayor of Newburgh Heights and members of the village's council against News 5 was thrown out Thursday in Cuyahoga County court.
Mayor Trevor Elkins and members of Newburgh Heights council sued News 5 for a report in November 2017 where we uncovered deceptive billing practices.
Attorneys for the mayor and the council claimed they were defamed by our report.
On Thursday, Cuyahoga County judge Stuart Friedman disagreed, saying the complaint didn’t meet the legal requirements.
Attorneys for Mayor Elkins told News 5 Thursday night they intend to appeal the ruling.
Mayor Elkins intends to appeal the ruling, which was at least correct in noting that the News 5 story at issue was a "superficial stringing together of unrelated [and "perfectly legal"] actions by the Village in order to create the illusion that there is something 'fishy' happening in Newburgh Heights," and that News 5 "exposed no scam."
The Pattakos Law Firm's statement on behalf of Mayor Elkins
Read the court’s full opinion below:
