Answer filed in defamation suit against Mason County superintendent

POINT PLEASANT - Mason County School Superintendent Suzanne Dickens has filed her answer in a defamation lawsuit filed against her by a former Mason County Sheriff's deputy.

Robert Glenn, a former Mason County Sheriff’s deputy, claims Suzanne Dickens, the superintendent of Mason County Schools, defamed him by making false statements to WSAZ News on March 18, 2011, about him sexually harassing students at Hannan Senior and Junior High School while he was working as the prevention resource officer, according to a complaint filed March 9, 2012, in Mason Circuit Court.

Glenn claims Dickens did knowingly, recklessly, willfully, wantonly and maliciously slander and/or libel and/or defame him by making, publishing and declaring information to WSAZ News, alleging that he had sexually harassed children at Hannan.

Dickens' allegations were false, slanderous and libelous per se and were published with reckless disregard for the truth, according to the suit.

In her answer, Dickens claims Glenn's complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

Dickens claims she did not commit any act constituting defamation, libel or slander and did not commit any act of negligence that resulted in injury to Glenn.

Glenn is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Mike Clifford.

Dickens is being represented by Robert J. Kent of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David W. Nibert.

Mason Circuit Court case number: 12-C-29