INDIANAPOLIS–The federal lawsuit by four women who accuse Indiana state Atty. Gen. Curtis Hill of groping them in 2018, at a party in Indianapolis following the end of the legislative session, was dismissed. But, the women are not giving up. They have sued again, this time in state court in Marion County.
The federal suit was dismissed because the only accusation against Hill which involved federal law was a sexual harassment claim. Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson ruled since Hill wasn’t the women’s employer, there was no basis for that charge, and the other claims belonged in state court instead.
The lawsuit alleges battery, defamation and false light invasion of privacy.
The lawsuit says the women are seeking monetary damages from Hill, though it does not specify how much. It also seeks to have Hill take back all statements made by him that the women consider defamatory, which Hill essentially had to do in accepting his discipline from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Hill was forced to take a one-month hiatus from his job, but remained in office, after his law license was suspended for one month.
The women accusing Hill of groping and defamation are Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster); and three women employed by the state legislature: Niki DaSilva; Samantha Lozano; and Gabrielle McLemore.
Hill was defeated for the Republican nomination for attorney general by former congressman and secretary of state Todd Rokita.
