BURLESON CO. ADDED AS DEFENDANT IN SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWSUIT
Burleson County has been added as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by a former county employee, who claims she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by former Burleson County Judge Mike Sutherland.
Last week, a supplemental petition was filed, adding Burleson County as a defendant. The former employee’s petition says the county is jointly and severally liable to her because Sutherland was the county judge and “acted under the color of law” at the time of the alleged sexual assaults.
The lawsuit originally named just Sutherland and his business, the Funky Junky, as defendants.
Sutherland’s attorney filed a notice of removal on Monday, asking for the suit to be moved to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin.
The lawsuit, originally filed on November 27th in Burleson County, alleges Sutherland sexually assaulted the former employee at his business and in his county office several times from November 2017 to January 2018. The plaintiff also claims violations of her Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, and is seeking at least $1 million in damages. She is being represented by Houston attorney U.A. Lewis.
Sutherland, in a prepared statement issued on December 2nd, said he denied “each and every allegation made in this lawsuit and, if this lawsuit goes forward, will vigorously defend against it”.
Sutherland abruptly resigned in June from his position as county judge. His resignation came as part of an agreement with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, who reportedly received two complaints alleging that Sutherland “sexually harassed a woman and/or engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman employed by Burleson County."
According to the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers, no criminal charge has been filed in the case, and there is no investigation at this time.