The city of Akron is asking for legal fees and other expenses in a motion filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court against Akron attorney Warner Mendenhall.
The filing stems from the case of Larry Modic, a veteran whose house was torn down in February after it was condemned by the city’s Housing Appeals Board.
The city says a lawsuit filed by Mendenhall on Modic’s behalf in an attempt to block the demolition was frivolous and violated the Ohio Revised Code’s Civil Rules of Procedure.
Mendenhall said his suit was not frivolous.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Paul Gallagher ruled against Mendenhall.
Modic, 57, of Lakewood, had threatened to kill anyone who tried to tear down his house.
He has maintained that he was not aware that the city of Akron had housing code issues with a house that he purchased last spring on Manchester Road.
After the Housing Appeals Board voted last year to condemn the house, Modic did not appeal within the required time limit that could have halted the demolition.
In January, Modic also filed an administrative appeal in Common Pleas Court. The case was dismissed last week.
On Friday, State Rep. Zack Milkovich, D-Akron, announced that the retired U.S. Army veteran has a new home in Akron.
Milkovich and others raised money to assist Modic after the house was razed.