Lincoln school board members says newspaper defamed her

HAMLIN -- A member of the Lincoln County Board of Education says a newspaper publisher printed defamatory statements about her in a weekly newspaper.

Carol Ann Smith, who is a former president of the Lincoln County school board, claims Daniel N. Butcher, individually, and Drummer, Inc., dba The Lincoln Standard, published the statements in 2008.

The complaint originally was brought in Wyoming Circuit Court, but Judge Warren R. McGraw transferred it to Lincoln County after the defendants filed a motion for change of venue.

A Branchland resident, Smith says the Standard newspaper alleged "fanciful and imaginary claims of conduct" on her part. "Butcher then began publishing cartoons ..." Smith contends, "depicting the plaintiff in bizarre circumstances," according to a complaint filed July 8 in Lincoln Circuit Court.

Smith presents five counts in her complaint, each seeking jury judgment for both compensatory and punitive damages, as well as other relief.

Smith is being represented by Charleston attorneys Rudolph L. DiTrapano and Sean P. McGinley, while Huntington attorneys Thomas E. Scarr, Gary A. Matthews and Matthew L. Williams defend Butcher and The Standard.

Lincoln Circuit Court case number: 10-C-81