GREAT FALLS – A woman who was expelled from a Great Falls City Commission meeting has filed a lawsuit against the city.
During a June 2007 meeting, Susan Overfield was removed from her position at a lectern because she exceeded a three-minute speaking limit during the public-comment portion. Overfield had been criticizing city officials about the Great Falls animal shelter.
A jury convicted her in March 2008 of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and assault for allegedly hitting a plain-clothed police detective in the groin. District Judge Julie Macek overturned the conviction in February, ruling that Overfield did not disturb the peace and she had the right to defend herself because she did not know Officer Art Schalin was a policeman.
Overfield’s lawsuit, filed in District Court on Friday, asks for general and special damages, loss of past and future earnings, compensation for pain and suffering, and attorneys’ fees.
The lawsuit says no one mentioned it was policemen who were removing Overfield. It also claims officers grabbed her arms inside the commission chambers and “slammed her against the wall” outside in the hallway.
City Attorney David Gliko said Monday he hadn’t seen the lawsuit and could not comment. He said the city’s insurance provider would determine whether to provide coverage or defend the city.