Lawyers for woman suing Joplin Police officer want nothing to do with lawsuit

The lawyers for a woman who is suing Joplin Police officer Seth Lugenbell and the City of Joplin want to get as far away from the lawsuit as they can.

In a motion filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, lawyers Andrew B. Protzman and Christopher M. Sorenson of the Protzman Law Firm of Kansas City, asked to be allowed to withdraw from the lawsuit, which was originally filed in Newton County Circuit June 29 and was transferred to federal court today.

Protzman said he and his client, Cassie Tritthart, Miami, Oklahoma, "have divergent views about the disposition of the underlying case. Plaintiff insists upon taking action that counsel have a fundamental disagreement with. Counsel can no longer effectively represent Plaintiff due to the divergent views of Plaintiff and counsel, and Plaintiff’s insistence upon taking action that counsel have a fundamental disagreement with."

Tritthart and Protzman had a telephone conversation about the case and could not agree, according to the motion.

In the lawsuit, Tritthart claimed that Joplin Police officer Seth Lugenbell punched her, kicked her, and fondled her breasts while arresting her at Mercy Hospital January 31.

More information about the case can be found at this link.