Posted on 06/16/2005 6:25:19 AM PDT by Born Conservative
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - (KRT) - U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood repeatedly punched and choked a Maryland woman during a "five-year intimate relationship" with her, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.
Cynthia Ore, 29, of Rockville, Md., says that after each "unprovoked and vicious attack" Sherwood, 64, promised he wouldn't do it again and begged her not to leave him, according to the four-count lawsuit filed by Patrick M. Regan, a prominent Washington, D.C., attorney.
The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court of the District of Columbia, asks for $5.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages and accuses the congressman of assault and battery, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
It also says Ore plans to pursue obtaining a restraining order against Sherwood, R-Pa., forbidding him from having contact with her.
The complaint states that throughout the long-term relationship, Sherwood repeatedly struck Ore on her face, neck, chest and back; violently yanked her hair; and tried to strangle her by placing his hands around her neck.
In the complaint, Ore states she lived with Sherwood in a Washington apartment for much of the relationship and that he repeatedly promised to marry her and start a family.
Ore has previously stated she met Sherwood in 1999 at a Young Republicans event.
Sherwood would not comment on the lawsuit Wednesday. "He hasn't seen the suit and won't have any comment on it tonight," said Sherwood's spokesman, Jake O'Donnell.
According to the suit:
Sherwood assaulted Ore inside his Hill House apartment, a complex occupied mostly by members of Congress, on the morning of June 24, 2004.
Sherwood, who is married and has three daughters, struck Ore on her face and body with a closed fist while she attempted to sleep and he began "violently choking her." "This unprovoked, cowardly, brutal and vicious attack occurred without warning," the suit states. "As a result of this violent assault, the plaintiff suffered substantial physical and emotional injuries."
The lawsuit also describes an alleged attack that caused Ore to call 911 on Sept. 15. It states the attack occurred at about 2:25 p.m. inside the Hill House apartment. Sherwood started an argument with Ore, then "suddenly and without any provocation or justification," Sherwood punched her in the face and body with a closed fist, then choked her, the complaint states.
Ore says she screamed, wiggled away from Sherwood and went into the bathroom, where she turned on the shower in an attempt to hide the sound of the 911 call.
Police responded to the 911 call, but did not file charges. Capitol Police, who are "responsible for protecting members of Congress, officers of the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, and their families," according to the Capitol Police Web site, arrived at the scene first, but handed the matter over to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Metropolitan Police said they saw no physical evidence of injury to Ore and noted that "both parties have left out significant information or are not willing to discuss in detail what actually happened." Police said Ore "did not appear to be of sound mind" and initially said she was choked, then changed her story, saying "nothing happened."
Ore admits she was dazed and distressed, but denies ever changing her story. She said police seemed more interested in protecting Sherwood than her.
Sherwood has denied choking Ore and has referred to her as a "casual acquaintance." He told police he was giving her a backrub when she "jumped up" and ran to the bathroom.
Sherwood has not returned phone calls to the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader about the incident since April 29, when he tried to convince an editor not to publish a story on Ore's contentions. Three days after the story ran, Sherwood issued a faxed statement apologizing for causing his family and supporters "pain and embarrassment."
The lawsuit also says on Sept. 22, Sherwood threatened Ore, saying he'd harm her if she made any further attempts to tell police about the assaults. Ore has been required to seek hospital attention "as a result of many of the assaults," and has incurred medical expenses, the lawsuit states.
Ore has had lacerations on her face, bruises on her head, neck and other parts of her body and injuries to her teeth, mouth, gums, back, neck and scalp, according to the suit. Ore "has feared and continues to fear for her life and has suffered serious emotional and physical injuries," the complaint states.
Ore recently hired Regan to take the case. She previously hired the Stein Sperling law firm based in Rockville to obtain medical records and police documents, but is no longer working with the firm.
Sherwood represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes all of Bradford, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties and parts of Lackawanna, Luzerne and Lycoming counties.
Sherwood has been a supporter of conservative family values since he was first elected to the seat in 1998. While he has hardly led the conservative charge on social issues, GOP leaders in the House have come to rely upon his vote when bills pertaining to "traditional family values" come to the floor.
Like I said, she is either outright lying or a sicko. Women who stay in abusive relationships are obviously sick.
The writer SHOWS HIS BIAS clearly. Sherwood is a RINO.
I would be willing to bet she's at least 45 years old, if she's a day.
If this is true then the guy should get what is coming to him.If it is not then she should be sued for slander for five million.And it doesn't matter if he is Republican or democrat he is trash for putting his family through this.
As for her looking more than 29 well if you look at most women that lead a slut's life then they look older.
From the looks of her in the picture above, it's abuse or rape when the john doesn't pay or tip well. That being said, the congress critter is an idiot.
There is an equine espression that applies here:
Rode hard and put away wet.
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