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Owasso approves legal representation for detective named in federal civil-rights lawsuit
Summary
Council approved a resolution retaining Thomas A. LeBlanc to represent Detective Penny Hambrick and to provide legal defense in a federal civil-rights lawsuit; staff said the city will defend her in her official capacity and provide individual-capacity defense if acting within scope of employment.
The Owasso City Council voted to retain outside counsel and provide legal defense for Detective Penny Hambrick in a federal civil-rights lawsuit.
Julia Lombardi, a city staff member presenting the item, told council members the complaint names many defendants and that Detective Hambrick appears to be named based on an investigative report she wrote in a child-custody matter. Lombardi said the suit names numerous public figures and, unusually, lists many defendants while not making specific allegations against Detective Hambrick in the pleading.
"As far as I can tell, there are really no specific claims against Detective Hamrick in this complaint," Lombardi said. She recommended approval of Resolution 2025-O-6 to retain attorney Thomas A. LeBlanc (working with the firm of Beth Sharp) and to provide defense for Detective Hambrick.
Lombardi explained the complaint names Hambrick in both her individual and official capacities. Under the city's practice, the city provides a defense for officials sued in their official capacities and may provide individual-capacity defense where the conduct falls within the scope of employment.
Lombardi said LeBlanc filed a motion to dismiss on the department's behalf the day of the meeting and that while dismissal is likely, litigation could continue and exposure could include attorneys' fees and potential monetary liability under a Section 1983 civil-rights claim.
Councilors moved, seconded and voted to approve the resolution. When polled, Councilor Paul Loving, Councilor Cody Walter and Mayor Alvin Prejean answered "Yes." The motion passed.
The resolution retains Thomas A. LeBlanc to represent Detective Hambrick and authorizes payment for her legal defense in the case identified in the meeting as Tran Stevens v. Penny Hambrick (case number recorded in the meeting transcript as 25-CV-322 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma). Lombardi said staff expects a motion to dismiss could result in an early dismissal for Hambrick but warned litigation timelines are uncertain.
