POSTED: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 --- 11:40 a.m.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A state appeals court says a Grafton woman abused the legal process when she filed a complaint against a sex offender's family.
Barbara Patterson put up fliers in 2009 announcing her neighbor, Wanda Keller, had decided to let her sex offender son move in. The Keller family began receiving prank phone calls and drivers started gawking at their house.
After the family warned Patterson they planned to sue her, Patterson filed a complaint alleging family members threatened her.
The family filed a lawsuit alleging invasion of privacy, defamation and abuse of process.
A judge dismissed all three claims, but the 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Patterson did abuse the process, saying she exaggerated her threat claims.
Patterson's attorney didn't immediately return a message.
AP-WF-06-20-12 1600GMT
Copyright 2012: Associated Press
 |
 |
 |
