Charles Pugh
Ex-Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh took to hiding in New York while authorities in Oakland County recently decided whether to press criminal charges against him in a case involving a teen he mentored in a Detroit school program.
He was never charged. The allegations were that Pugh touched the teen inappropriately and coerced him into providing a sexual video of himself.
Now, Pugh, who still lives in New York, gets to hide behind the city's bankruptcy -- at least for the moment.
Attorney William Seikaly represents the teen trying to sue Pugh for civil rights violations.
Seikaly filed a motion Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court urging Judge Steven Rhodes to lift a stay that prevents the teen from suing Pugh under the bankruptcy proceedings. The bankruptcy proceedings generally protect a party --in this case the city of Detroit --from being sued.
The city, Seikaly writes, has refused, without explanation, to lift the stay in Pugh's case so the case can proceed.
Seikaly apparently feels that the bankruptcy protection goes too far by protecting Pugh, even though he was the city council president at the time of the encounters with the teen. Seikaly argues that what Pugh did went far beyond the scope of his official duties, and therefore, he should not be shielded by the bankruptcy.
In emphasizing the need for the court to let the case go forward, Seikaly wrote that the teen and his family "have suffered emotional and psychological damage as a result of Pugh's actions.
"Additioinally, (the teen) was taunted and harassed not only by his peers, but also by the press as a result of these incidents. Conversely, Pugh has suffered only shame and embarrassment that he brought upon himself as a result of his sexual harassment of (of the teen)."
Seikaly, when contacted Friday evening, said the motion speaks for himself.
Attorneys representing the city, and the spokesman for Kevyn Orr, could not immediately reached for comment Friday evening.
