A federal judge has thrown out an employment lawsuit filed by a former assistant prosecuting attorney against Macomb County and the Prosecutor’s Office, saying both the ex-lawman and his attorney had engaged in “complete dishonesty.” U.S.
District Judge Judith E. Levy on May 23 dismissed the case filed by Joshua Van Laan, who claimed he was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment, along with gender, racial and disability discrimination during a county investigation. The judge alleges Van Laan and his defense attorney, Brian Dailey, of “complete dishonesty” and said the defense had failed to comply with court-ordered directives aimed at keeping the lawsuit proceeding in a timely fashion.
“I don’t know, honestly, whether plaintiff and his counsel are trying to thwart the proceedings or they have reckless disregard, but they have one or the other or both,” she said, according to a transcript of the hearing. Lucido, who campaigned on implementing what he called needed reforms for the Prosecutor’s Office in 2020, praised the judge’s actions “The real winners are the residents of Macomb County, who now have a prosecutor’s office they can truly be proud of,” said Lucido. “The judge said the person suing me lied and was dishonest.
I ask the media to report the dismissal with as much fanfare as they reported the lying dishonest plaintiff’s headline grabbing lawsuit.” Lucido previously denied the accusations by 16 current and former county e.
