Raymond Geyman, husband of former Switzerland County School Corporation treasurer Ann Geyman, has informed the Switzerland County School Corporation and members of the school board that he intends to sue.
In a letter from Madison attorney Joseph A. Colussi dated November 20th, 2007, and acquired by Vevay Newspapers under the Freedom of Information Act, Raymond Geyman informed the school and its board members that he intends to file a claim, “…For the defamation of his character, for abuse of process, and for violation of I.C. 34-52-1-1.”
Indiana Code 34-52-1-1 is a statute that allows the winning party in a civil lawsuit to recover costs involved in the lawsuit from the party that loses the suit.
“With respect to the claim of defamation of his character, please be advised that C. Duane O’Neal, on behalf of the Switzerland County School Corporation and its Board, defamed Raymond Geyman in out-of-court statements to The Madison Courier on November 14, 2007, which were published on November 15, 2007, implying that Raymond Geyman is guilty of the crimes of theft and embezzlement, and claiming that Raymond Geyman was living beyond his means on money stolen from the Switzerland County School Corporation,” the notice states.
On the abuse of process charge, the letter contends: “…The Switzerland County School Corporation and its Board commenced a groundless and bad faith action on July 13, 2007 against Raymond Geyman with the ulterior purpose of masking the negligence of and breach of fiduciary duties by the Switzerland County School Corporation and each member of its Board to properly oversee and manage the former Treasurer, Ann Center Geyman.
“The Switzerland County School Corporation and its Board were formally asked to dismiss this action against Raymond Geyman by letter of October 15, 2007, to the attorney for the Switzerland County School Corporation and its Board, C. Duane O’Neal, the receipt of which was acknowledged by Mr. O’Neal on behalf of the Switzerland County School Corporation and its Board on October 23, 2007….”
The letter states that, “…Raymond Geyman is disabled and suffers severe kidney disfunction which requires dialysis three or more days each week. The bad faith litigation being pursued against him and the defamation of his character have and continue to place extreme stress on his fragile health.”
The letter gives the school corporation 90 days to respond, and then the matter will go to the Jefferson Circuit Court.