Local attorney Jennifer Gilliland Vanasdale filed a civil lawsuit Friday, Nov. 17, against District Attorney Richard Goldinger and others, alleging they engaged in a “campaign to publish lies” to interfere with this month's general election.

In the lawsuit, Gilliland Vanasdale, who opposed Goldinger in the election as an Independent candidate, seeks a jury trial and in excess of $35,000 in damages for alleged defamation and libel, defamation by implication, publishing false statements and aiding and abetting tortious misconduct.

“Tortious” implies wrongful misconduct.

The lawsuit names Goldinger, Justin Castilyn of Saxonburg, Cheryl Guenther of Prospect and Mayor Jondavid Longo of Slippery Rock as defendants.

The suit takes issue with several documents, including a campaign letter and two civil suits naming her as a defendant — a sealed suit filed in 2011 in Butler County and another suit filed in 2019 in Allegheny County.

“Publication of these statements has greatly injured (Gilliland Vanasdale) and her reputation within the community, and has caused humiliation and harm as a licensed attorney with a law business in the community,” the lawsuit alleges.

“This lawsuit is about holding them accountable and helping to prevent similar conduct against anyone else who dares to challenge the status quo,” said Gilliland Vanasdale to the Eagle in a Monday, Nov. 20, email.

Goldinger also replied to the Eagle’s request for comment Nov. 20 by email.

“Most attorneys would know that commenting on pending litigation is not appropriate. To that end, I will have no comment other than to say I will vigorously defend myself against these baseless and malicious accusations,” he said.

According to unofficial election results, Goldinger received 27,730 votes in Butler County, or 58%, to defeat Gilliland Vanasdale, who received 19,770 votes, or 41%.

Castilyn, Guenther and Longo also told the Eagle that the allegations are false.

“My lawyer intends to vigorously defend this frivolous lawsuit. As well as we are debating the legalities of filing a counter suit. I look forward to the case playing out in court,” Castilyn said in a request for comment Nov. 22 through Facebook Messenger.

In response to the lawsuit, defendant Guenther denied the accusations and said her support of Goldinger was her duty as a committee member of The United Republicans of Butler County.

“I have done nothing wrong. I simply supported the Republican nominee for District Attorney, as it is my duty as a member of The United Republicans of Butler County,” Guenther said in a written statement Nov. 21.

“This is all I have to say at this time. I have been advised not (to) give detailed comments on a matter pending before court.”

Longo said he will defend himself against the accusations.

“I have reviewed the complaint, believe it is baseless and without merit as it relates to me, and I intend to defend against it,” Longo said in a Nov. 22 written statement.

The November suit claims that Goldinger’s publication of a campaign letter Oct. 12 contained “false statements.”

According to the suit, the letter, signed by Goldinger, said Gilliland Vanasdale is “unable to practice in front of any of the sitting judges in Butler County.”

In the suit, Gilliland Vanasdale claims this statement was false, in addition to another statement about the potential cost to taxpayers. According to the suit, the letter alleges visiting judges would have to hear her criminal cases, if she were elected.

The suit said these statements were to “influence the voters by scaring them with an increase to tax dollars.”

The November suit alleges Castilyn, Guenther and Longo “commented, encouraged, and published” these statements. The suit alleges Guenther is an administrator for the Facebook page “Local Butler Politics” and Castilyn maintains the “Butler News” Facebook page.

The civil suit filed Nov. 17 also addressed how the defendants allegedly publicized a 2019 lawsuit alleging that Gilliland Vanasdale sexually assaulted a man from Homestead.

“The 2019 fraudulent and fake lawsuit is defamation per se against (Gilliland Vanasdale) as it is outrageous and wrongfully and falsely alleged criminal offenses, business misconduct, and serious sexual misconduct,” November’s suit reads.

According to the November suit, Gilliland Vanasdale said the 2019 lawsuit falsely accuses her of engaging in sexual acts with the man, claiming she was “entitled to be repaid” for pro bono legal representation and sealing a case so “nobody would see what she did to a minor child.”

In the November suit, Gilliland Vanasdale alleges the man’s address on the 2019 lawsuit was connected to Castilyn.

Gilliland Vanasdale, in the November lawsuit, said she reported the 2019 alleged attempted fraud to Goldinger on July 23, 2021. The November lawsuit alleges Goldinger did not solve the crimes and advised Gilliland Vanasdale “not to pursue since no one was aware of the 2019 matter.”

The November lawsuit details that Gilliland Vanasdale began on July 4 to circulate a petition with intentions to run against Goldinger. On July 5, she said the person who encouraged her to run for election was contacted by a staff employee of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s office, informing him of the 2019 lawsuit.

According to the November lawsuit, Kelly’s office was given the 2019 lawsuit by Guenther on July 5.

This action of Guenther’s was taken with “intent to defame and harm” and that she and others knew, or should have known, that the allegations were false, the November lawsuit alleges.

The November lawsuit discloses that Gilliland Vanasdale was named in a sealed 2011 suit, which was allegedly published on the “Butler News” Facebook page on Oct. 23.

According to the November suit, the sealed suit involved a “complex matter that (Gilliland Vanasdale) was handling for her client who was sued by his deceased father’s third wife claiming funds in excess to a prenuptial agreement.”

The November suit indicates the sealed case was withdrawn and discontinued by the defendant and sealed because of the plaintiff’s wealth and real estate holdings.

The November lawsuit accuses Longo of threatening a sitting Slippery Rock Borough Council member “to be careful” if she and her mother did not remove their names from Gilliland Vanasdale’s nomination paper.

The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants did not report all of the campaign expenditures associated with their actions.