One of the women who claims that she was forced into engaging in a sexual act with former DeKalb County Deputy David Sharp, has filed a circuit court lawsuit against Sharp and the county, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
In her lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, February 21st, Lisa Porterfield alleges that “On or about May 26th, 2006, Sharp, while acting by virtue of or under color of his office, forced her to engage in a sexual act.”
The lawsuit states that “The actions of Deputy Sharp were unlawful and constituted an assault and battery upon Porterfield’s person, and renders Sharp and the county liable for damages to Porterfield.”
“As a direct and proximate result of Sharp’s conduct, Porterfield sustained severe emotional distress and mental injury and has had to undergo counseling.”
“Sharp’s conduct was intentional and reckless and was intended to cause Porterfield severe emotional distress and mental injury and was outrageous. Porterfield’s emotional distress, her treatment, and the expense of the treatment, as well as her embarrassment all directly resulted from Sharp’s conduct.”
“Sharp’s conduct was so outrageous such that punitive damages are warranted to deter the defendant’s and others similarly situated from engaging in such conduct in the future.”
“As a result of the foregoing acts of Sharp, Porterfield suffered bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, hospital and medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity. Porterfield believes that the losses she has suffered are permanent, and she will continue to suffer losses in the future as a result of the acts of the defendants.”
Porterfield names the county as a co-defendant with Sharp claiming that “the defendant county is liable for the wrongs of it’s deputy sheriff’s.”
Earlier this month, Sharp received a total of six years probation after pleading guilty in Criminal Court to two counts of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression.
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