Purcellville, Virginia – A defamation lawsuit has been filed in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County by Sara Lombraña, the Acting/Interim Police Chief of Purcellville, against Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett and The Town of Purcellville.
The lawsuit alleges that Nett made false and defamatory statements regarding Lombraña, which the plaintiff claims have damaged her reputation. The complaint seeks relief for defamation per se, asserting that the statements imply immoral or illegal conduct, thus harming Lombraña’s professional standing.
Lombraña was appointed as Deputy Chief of the Purcellville Police Department in September 2024, eventually becoming the Interim Police Chief following Chief Barry Dufek’s resignation. Carl Nett was serving as both a police officer and a council member at the same time, running for a seat on the Town Council with a platform focused on reducing municipal expenditures. However, concerns about potential conflicts of interest related to his dual roles were raised.
The events leading to the lawsuit include internal investigations into Nett’s conduct as a police officer, during which he allegedly attempted to offer positions to undermine Lombraña’s authority. This investigation culminated in Nett’s termination from the police department in April 2025 for serious policy violations.
Lombraña’s lawsuit outlines claims that Nett engaged in a campaign against her following his termination, including sending letters to various officials and making statements during Town Council meetings that she contends were defamatory. He reportedly accused Lombraña of corrupt practices, which, if proven false, can be classified as defamation.
The lawsuit contends that Nett’s statements were made with actual malice, meaning he may have known they were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth. The complaint is seeking $10 million in consequential damages and $350,000 in punitive damages, in addition to pre- and post-judgment interest.
A trial by jury is requested, and developments in this case will be closely monitored by both local residents and the media. The resolution of this legal matter will play a critical role in addressing questions of defamation and accountability within the public office of Purcellville.
Stay tuned to Purcellville News for further updates on this case and other local news.