LaDonna Snellbaker and Diana Hays, employees of the Town of Purcellville, have filed a lawsuit against Carl “Ben” Nett, the Vice Mayor of Purcellville, and the Corporation of Purcellville. The case was registered in the Circuit Court of Loudoun County and centers around allegations of defamation.

The plaintiffs claim that Nett made false statements regarding them in both his individual capacity and as Vice Mayor, which they assert were damaging to their reputations. The lawsuit alleges that Nett, while campaigning for a seat on the Purcellville Town Council, made comments related to the salaries of town officials and suggested inefficiencies within the local government. Snellbaker, who serves as the Director of Human Resources, and Hays, the Assistant Town Manager, argue that these remarks were intended to harass and demean them.

The complaint states that Nett’s statements have caused both women reputational harm and emotional distress. It further claims that they have not engaged in public controversies and have maintained private positions regarding town policies.

The lawsuit is seeking significant damages, including $10 million for consequential damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. The plaintiffs are invoking the concept of defamation per se, which implies that damages may be presumed due to the nature of the statements made.

Stay tuned to Purcellville News for the latest updates on this developing story.