Former Coats Commissioner Takes Case to Federal Court

Carter's suit has been remanded to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District. She is suing the Town of Coats, Mayor Marshall Miller, Commissioners Margaret House and Walter Weeks and Town Administrator Tony White.

Using rarely employed law, the Town Board voted to remove Carter after she was charged with disorderly conduct and communicating threats during a confrontation at Town Hall in July.

Carter is seeking to have the board's decision overturned, to be reinstated  to the board and to have the defendants pay damages and her attorney's fees.

In the suit, she alleged that the ouster was illegal because she wasn't given proper notice of the removal vote.