YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A $12.5 million civil rights lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that the woman who managed the former Metroplex in Liberty Hotel and Conference Center was the victim of racially motivated actions at the hands of sixteen officials and police officers from Liberty and Girard.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court alleges that former Metroplex corporate owner, Aswin Ganapathy of Hubbard, and former hotel manager Indira Peryisamy were victims of discrimination and malicious prosecution.

Defendants named in the suit include Girard Mayor James Melfi, Girard Public Services Director Gerry Lambert, Girard Water Department Manager Laura Hart, Girard Police Detective John Norman, Liberty Township Administrator Pat Ungaro, Liberty Fire Chief Michael Durkin, Liberty Police Chief Richard Tisone, and eight other members of the Liberty Police Department.

Aswin, who purchased the building for $900,000 in 2009 and according to the lawsuit invested another $1.8 million in improvements, alleges that the defendants were responsible for actions designed to prevent the owners from effectively operating and making a profit from the hotel which closed in March, 2014.

The allegations outlined in the suit include insisting that no parties be held at the Hotel “after hours” without hiring members of the Liberty Township Police or Fire Department to provide security at a rate double the cost of comparable providers.

The suit also claims that police interfered with the operations of a legal and legitimate private poker club that rented space from the hotel for its operations.

In May 2010, Liberty Police said that Club Infiniti would have to shut down its poker games or face charges in court.

On New Year's Eve 2012, Liberty Police shut down a private party at the Metroplex, saying that the organizers failed to clearly display a liquor permit, even though management says the hotel did have a valid liquor license at the time.

Hotel owners also claim that Girard city officials falsely accused the Metroplex of “stealing” water, and even instated criminal charges in August 2013. Those charges were later dismissed.

The lawsuit alleges that on several occasions, disparaging comments were made to Peryisamy about her national origin, race, and ethnicity. Peryisamy, who is of Indian heritage, also goes by the name Indira Sammy.

Owners say that police failed or refused to respond to calls for assistance to handle situations that had arisen at the Hotel.

The suit says that hotel management was accused of renting rooms after the hotel was closed by a fire that occurred on March 4, 2014, Aswin claims it was complying with all orders and directives pertaining to the Hotel subsequent to that fire.

Three days after the fire, Peryisamy surrendered the hotel's license to the State Fire Marshal. The suit claims that Sammy was subjected to threats of reprisal the day after she gave up the license.

The suit seeks an award of no less than $5 million in punitive damages for the former owners of the complex, as well as $5 million in punitive damages and another $2.5 million in compensatory damages for Peryisamy.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial. The defendants have yet to file answers to the complaint.