Lombrana files defamation lawsuit against Purcellville and Vice Mayor
By Valerie Cury
Purcellville Acting Police Chief Sara Lombrana has filed a defamation lawsuit against Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett and the Town of Purcellville, alleging that Nett made false public statements that harmed her professional reputation.
The lawsuit was filed Jan. 28, the same day Nett filed a separate federal lawsuit against the town. Lombrana is represented by Westlake Legal Group attorneys Thomas K. Plofchan Jr. and Jacqueline A. Kramer, who previously represented former Purcellville Police Chief Cindy McAlister in her lawsuit against the town.
The complaint includes two claims and seeks $20 million in consequential damages, as well as $350,000 in punitive damages. Nett is named as a defendant both individually and in his official capacity as vice mayor.
According to the lawsuit, the first claim alleges that Nett made false and misleading statements about Lombrana over the past year that damaged her reputation and jeopardized her employment.
The second claim alleges that Nett used his position as a town official to further those statements, causing professional harm while Lombrana was serving as interim police chief.
The lawsuit states that Nett publicly accused Lombrana of misconduct, leaking confidential information and acting with political bias against him. The complaint contends that those statements falsely implied criminal or ethical wrongdoing.
The filing also alleges that Nett made the statements while acting in his role as vice mayor, which the lawsuit says lent authority to the claims and increased their impact. It further alleges that Nett used his public position to encourage media coverage of the accusations, amplifying their effect.
The complaint references several internal matters cited in Nett’s statements, including his attendance at meetings and use of sick leave. According to the lawsuit, those matters were mischaracterized and misrepresented Lombrana’s actions and decisions as interim chief.
Nett’s federal lawsuit addresses disciplinary action taken against him and the town’s failure to implement the Grievance Panel’s unanimous decision clearing him of all charges, while Lombrana’s two-count defamation lawsuit against the town and Nett focuses on public statements she alleges were false and damaging. Lombrana’s case will proceed through Loudoun County courts with dates to be determined.
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