Charles Pugh
A teen who has accused Charles Pugh of an inappropriate relationship can sue the former president of the Detroit City Council.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes lifted a moratorium Tuesday on lawsuits against the city. The ruling allows the teen, identified in court as K.S. Doe, to go after Pugh, but not sue the city outside of bankruptcy court, Robert Snell of the Detroit News reports.
That means damages against the city would be liquidated in bankruptcy court and treated as an unsecured claim, Snell writes.
“Outside of the city’s bankruptcy case, K.S. Doe may not collect, or attempt to collect, any funds from the city on account of the claim, the lawsuit or otherwise,” Rhodes ordered, according to the news.
Authorities had launched a criminal investigation into Pugh because of the questionable relationship Pugh had while he was mentoring the then-high school student. He was never charged. The allegations were that Pugh, while still president of the city council, bought the teen gifts, touched him inappropriately, sent him sexually explicit texts and coerced him into providing a sexual video of himself.
The teens attorney Attorney William Seikaly earlier this month filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court urging Judge Steven Rhodes to lift a stay that prevented 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 wrote, had refused, without explanation, to lift the stay in Pugh's case so the case can proceed.
Seikaly felt that the bankruptcy protection had gone too far by protecting Pugh, even though he was the city council president at the time of the encounters with the teen. Seikaly argued that what Pugh did went far beyond the scope of his official duties, and therefore, he should not be shielded by the bankruptcy.
The teen is seeking at least $1 million.
Seikaly could not be reached immediately for comment. Pugh is currently living in New York. -- Allan Lengel
