Plaintiff Sherry Tenney has filed a civil rights complaint against the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, alleging reputational harm and due process violations. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on May 16, 2024, naming Attorney General Michelle Henry and other officials as defendants.
According to the filing, Tenney claims that a Facebook group known as "Demon Trolls" orchestrated false reports of consumer fraud against her business. These reports were allegedly directed to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General by competitors aiming to disrupt her commercial success. The plaintiff contends that Senior Deputy Attorney General Paul Edger and Agent Mia Paone failed to perform necessary due diligence while investigating these allegations. Tenney argues that Edger and Paone lacked a proper factual foundation for their claims and continued to communicate with members of the "Demon Trolls," thereby exacerbating the damage to her reputation.
The complaint further alleges that Chief Deputy Attorney General Sarah Frasch did not adequately review the findings before filing a lawsuit against Tenney in state court. This lawsuit, titled "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Attorney General Michelle Henry vs. Sherry Tenney," was purportedly rushed for political gain and media coverage, without giving Tenney an opportunity to respond or review the allegations.
Tenney's legal action seeks multiple forms of relief from the court. She requests injunctive relief compelling the defendants to publicly renounce their claims against her in both print and digital media throughout Pennsylvania. Additionally, she seeks compensatory damages for reputational harm, punitive damages, statutory damages, counsel fees, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is being handled by Jason E. Piatt of Piatt Law PLLC, representing Sherry Tenney. The case ID is 1:24-cv-00820-YK, presided over by Judge Yvette Kane.