Presque Isle County, officials say disgruntled parent lawsuit baseless
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ONAWAY -- Onaway parent Erin Chaskey didn't say why police were wrong in arresting her after she secretly recorded a conversation between school officials at Onaway Area Community Schools, according to court paperwork filed late last month.
The paperwork came in response to a lawsuit by Chaskey against the school district, several school officials, court and police officials, and Presque Isle County.
An attorney for Presque Isle County Prosecutor Ken Radzibon, Presque Isle County Sheriff Joe Brewbaker, county deputy David Schmoldt, and the county responded on Aug. 23 to a federal lawsuit filed by Chaskey in June.
The lawsuit claimed the defendants wronged Chaskey by barring her from school district property and prosecuting her on criminal eavesdropping charges.
Those actions resulted when a district surveillance camera in October recorded Chaskey capturing a conversation between school officials on her phone while she stood in an empty school office.
The conversation included criticism about her vocal opposition of school curriculum, Chaskey claimed.
Criminal charges against Chaskey were dismissed when Judge Aaron Gauthier ruled the prosecution had not proven that Chaskey had committed a crime.
Though naming Radzibon, Brewbaker, and Schmoldt in the lawsuit, Chaskey failed to explain what she believed those parties did to wrong her, the response said.
Claiming immunity from prosecution for Brewbaker and Radzibon under both federal and state law, the response said police and the courts had ample probable cause to justify Chaskey's arrest and prosecution.
None of the three defendants performed any action "which interfered with Plaintiff's legally recognized right to parent," the response said.
Chaskey claimed in her suit that the defendants conspired against her and acted intentionally to humiliate and harm her.
Chaskey "has failed to plead any specific factual allegations supporting the existence or nature of the alleged conspiracy between the Defendants," the response said.
Chaskey's lawsuit asked for $20 million in damages, citing emotional and physical trauma.
"Plaintiff's injuries," the response said, "if any, are the result of the Plaintiff's own wrongful/criminal conduct and/or negligence."
Previously, a separate response by attorneys for the school district and officials called their actions in handling Chaskey "careful, prudent, proper, and lawful."
On Tuesday, Chaskey submitted paperwork dismissing downstate attorney Daren Wiseley, replacing him with northern Michigan attorney Daniel Harris.
The dismissal followed Wiseley's August arrest in Florida on a charge of battering a firefighter, according to court documents shared by The Hillsdale Daily News.