Lawsuit against Warren is dismissed

YOUNGSTOWN — A federal judge has dismissed without a trial a $2.5 million lawsuit filed against the city of Warren, its city council and three of its councilmen by the owner of a bar that closed and lost its liquor license after a shooting outside the bar accidentally injured a sleeping neighbor.

Linda Gadd of Bazetta Township, owner of the Olympic Inn on Parkman Road Northwest, Warren, filed the suit in August 2013, naming Councilmen Bob Dean, Eddie Colbert and Vincent Flask as defendants and alleging her bar was defamed and she was denied due process of law in the events that led to the state’s nonrenewal of her liquor license.

In dismissing the suit last week, U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson rejected the defamation claim, saying Gadd was unable to identify any false statements the defendants made about her bar.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com