The law firm representing a woman who is suing the city of Roanoke Rapids, three of its police officers and several other defendants over the closure of her business issued a press statement today on behalf of the plaintiff, Vivian Pompliano.
“I am bringing this case to ensure that no one else has to suffer the indignities of wrongful prosecution based on the pursuit of a successful business idea and the exercise of fundamental constitutional rights,” Pompliano said in the statement released by the Tin Fulton Walker & Owen law firm’s Durham office.
Pompliano is the owner of Pomp Boys Motors in Roanoke Rapids, which closed, the federal lawsuit says, because the officers named in the complaint exercised “extreme misconduct.”
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the city of Roanoke Rapids; officers Jamie Lee Hardy, Antonio Seward, and Jayme Shelburne in their individual and official capacities; Vickie Evans, Dennis Harvey, and Rose Beacham in their individual capacities; and L&R Motor Company.
Hardy was terminated in April of last year along with former Chief Bobby Martin. Martin has filed a lawsuit against the city regarding his termination. He was not named in the Pomp Boys complaint.
Seward and Shelburne are still employed with the department.
“Pomp Boys specialized in classic car restoration and was a national draw with enthusiasts from around the country patronizing the shop’s high end restoration services,” the statement says. “But to protect pre-existing local car shops and in retaliation for Ms. Pompliano speaking out against police harassment, the Roanoke Rapids police conspired to bring false criminal charges against Ms. Pompliano in an effort to force her to close her business.”
The conspiracy ran deep, the law firm said. “The police officers conspired directly with customers, permitting them to trespass and damage Pomp Boys’ property; passing out a flier encouraging customers to bring unfounded criminal and civil claims against Ms. Pompliano; and defaming Ms. Pompliano in the community and to the press. The conspiracy resulted not only in widespread and inaccurate media reporting about Ms. Pompliano and her business, but also in baseless criminal charges against Ms. Pompliano.”
The criminal charges, as stated in the lawsuit filed in the United States Eastern District of North Carolina court, were reviewed by a prosecutor and on March 8 each charge was dismissed after a finding that the evidence was legally insufficient to proceed with criminal charges. “Nevertheless, the conspiracy worked,” the statement said. “Pomp Boys was forced to close and Ms. Pompliano suffered considerable financial and reputational losses.”
The federal lawsuit seeks justice for the harms caused by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department and their co-conspirators, the statement said.
Today, court records show a notice of proposed summons was filed in the case by her attorney Abraham Rubert-Schewel.
The file contains seven proposed summons.
