In a surprising turn of events on Monday, four women who had accused Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill of groping them decided to withdraw their civil lawsuit just hours before jury selection was about to begin.
Background of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit, initially filed in federal court in 2019, presented allegations against Hill involving incidents of unwanted touching at a bar in Indianapolis.
The plaintiffs also accused him of defamation after he publicly denied their claims, stating that their allegations were false.
In 2020, they launched a separate lawsuit in Marion County, further pursuing their case.
This dismissal concludes nearly seven years of investigations and legal battles stemming from Hill’s behavior during a party held in March 2018, which coincided with the end of the legislative session for that year, as highlighted by The Indianapolis Star.
Reaction to the Withdrawal
In a statement released by their attorneys, the four women—Mara Candelaria Reardon, Gabrielle McLemore Brock, Samantha Lozano, and Niki DaSilva—shared that they felt their chances of achieving a satisfactory resolution through trial were slim.
They had hoped for Hill’s recognition of his actions and an admission of guilt concerning the unwanted sexual touching they endured.
Candelaria Reardon was a Democratic state representative at the time of the incident, while her co-plaintiffs were serving as legislative staffers.
They opted to go public with their stories after Hill denied the allegations.
Following the lawsuit’s withdrawal, Hill claimed that this development validated his longstanding defense against the accusations.
He noted that no financial settlements or conditions were involved in the case’s dismissal, referring to the entire saga as unfounded and a source of persistent political and personal attacks against him.
Consequences for Curtis Hill
Despite Hill’s denials, the Indiana Supreme Court suspended his law license for 30 days in 2020, citing substantial evidence that supported claims he had committed battery against three female staff members and one lawmaker during the 2018 event.
The court reached its conclusion after hearing testimonies from nine individuals who attended the party.
The allegations against Hill became a focal point in the 2020 election campaign, influencing his defeat in the Republican primary to Todd Rokita, who ultimately took office in January 2021.
Hill sought to rekindle his political career in 2022 but failed to secure the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski after her tragic death in a car accident.
Instead, Rudy Yakym earned the nomination and went on to win the election for Indiana’s 2nd District seat.
This year, Hill also aimed for the Indiana governorship, entering a crowded Republican primary race to succeed the term-limited GOP Governor Eric Holcomb.
However, first-term U.S. Senator Mike Braun emerged victorious in both the May primary and the subsequent general election in November.
Source: Insurancejournal.com
