City officials will have to face lawsuit

A federal appeals court says Muskogee city<br>officials are NOT immune to civil proceedings.<br> <br>The ruling by a panel of the Tenth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals means the civil lawsuit can go on.<br>

Tuesday, November 2nd 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A federal appeals court says Muskogee city
officials are NOT immune to civil proceedings.

The ruling by a panel of the Tenth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals means the civil lawsuit can go on.

Attorneys for former inspector James Martin, City Manager Walter Beckham and others had argued their clients were immune because of
their standing as city officials.

Eleven Muskogee-area women sued Martin, Beckham and others in October 1996 for eleven (M) million dollars on claims their civil
rights were violated.

They say Martin threatened to disconnect their utilities if they refused to have sex with him.

None of the women had sex with Martin.

Beckham and other city officials were included in the lawsuit because the plaintiffs claim the city should have known about
Martin's alleged advances.