PHILADELPHIA - A Federal Judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former stripper who was seeking damages from the city stemming from a sexual assault by two police officers.
Amy Ruhalo, 29, sued the city in federal district court in 2003, alleging that the then officers violated her civil rights when they assaulted her, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported today.
Judge John P. Fullam threw out her suit, saying she failed to prove the city as liable. But he admitted the department was not “well run” and that some officers neglected their duties when Ruhalo was assaulted.
James Fallon Jr. and Timothy Carre were fired from the department in February 2003 and pleaded guilty in November 2003 to assault-related charges.
According to police Buhalo had just finished working at Daydreams strip club in Northeast Philadelphia, when she drove to a nearby convenience store on Frankford Avenue early on Dec. 11, 2002.
The two officers then drove up in to her and after some brief questioning, told Buhalo to get in the cruiser’s back seat. The officers then drove her to a deserted lot near Aramingo Avenue and Interstate 95 and assaulted her.
In her suit, Buhalo claims the city should be held liable for the cops’ actions because it had what she called was an “unconstitutional custom” of not disciplining officers for misconduct.
Thomas Kline, Ruhalo’s lawyer, said his client would now go to trial against the two former officers. She is seeking unspecified damages.
Legal
- By
