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Savokinas alleged in article that Nowakowski could have put pot in the sheriff’s car.
Former Luzerne County Sheriff candidate George “Nipper” Nowakowski on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against recently resigned sheriff Michael Savokinas and the county.
Nowakowski said the basis of the lawsuit stems from statements made by Savokinas in a July 15 story in The Times Leader in which the sheriff alleged Nowakowski, former sheriff Barry Stankus and Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla could have planted marijuana in the sheriff’s car.
“I don’t want to come out and accuse anybody. At this point, I wouldn’t put it by anyone,” said Savokinas in the story. “It just seems all so weird how this is all coming out. I don’t believe in coincidence.”
In the TL story, Savokinas specifically noted Nowakowski, whom he defeated in the 2007 Democratic primary race for his current office; Stankus, whom he beat in the general election; and Petrilla.
The suit was filed in the county prothonotary’s office at 11 a.m. by attorney Thomas M. Marsilio. Nowakowski, 71, is a former state police investigator. He resides in Duryea.
Petrilla said she intends to get a copy of the filing and review it with the county solicitor.
“I want to know what involvement Luzerne County has in this,” she said. “Lawsuits cost taxpayers money; we have to act on them as they come in.”
Petrilla said she has no plans to sue Savokinas.
Nowakowski said he filed the lawsuit because of the implication he may have planted drugs in a sheriff’s vehicle.
“I have spoken to a lot of investigators and they all advised me to sue,” Nowakowski said. “I haven’t been near a county sheriff’s car in over 15 years.”
The suit claims Savokinas knew his comments were “false, malicious and made with reckless disregard for the truth and without any basis in fact or any justifiable reliance.”
According to the complaint filed by Marsilio on behalf of Nowakowski, statements made by Savokinas were “defamatory and particularly humiliating and embarrassing for an individual who has spent his entire career in law enforcement.” The complaint states further that Nowakowski “has been damaged by these allegations in that he has suffered humiliation and embarrassment and injury to his reputation that may affect his ability to run for public office in the future in that said allegations may be used against him by his opponents.”
Savokinas was unavailable for comment. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000.