Former Liberty Local School Superintendent Joseph Nohra who already faces criminal charges for allegedly recording secret videos of school employees is now named in a half-million-dollar civil lawsuit filed by those who said they were on those secret recordings.

Former Liberty School Maintenance and Transportation Secretary Christine Gallaugher, her husband, and five other people are suing Nohra and the school board for more than $595,000 alleging invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress.

Nohra has pleaded not guilty to six counts of interception of wire, oral or electronic communication, which are felonies, and five counts of interfering with civil rights, which are misdemeanors.

Investigators said Nohra installed hidden cameras inside carbon monoxide detectors above five different employees' desks in April and May of 2018, then attempted to use the secret recordings of private conversations.

Nohra’s attorney claims the cameras were part of a theft-in-office investigation into a school employee and were installed with the school board's approval.

In the lawsuit, Gallaugher said she, her husband, fellow employees, and a friend were recorded having personal conversations at her desk.

Gallaugher, who said in the suit that reached an agreement with the school board to retire in 2018, seeks reinstatement to her former job with the district with retroactive pay as part of the lawsuit. Nohra's attorneys, Dave Betras and Brian Kopp point to Gallaugher's retirement agreement with the schools, which includes an agreement to not take legal action.

This documentation is in the lawsuit, stating  "...Gallauger promises not to file, prosecute or become a party to any lawsuit, charge, or administrative complaint concerning any issues relating to or arising from her employment with and separation from Liberty..."

Kopp added in part, "Nohra did exactly what is expected of him by the board with the consent of the district and their lawyers in order to protect taxpayer money. This camera was installed because one of the plaintiffs, in this case, was using school resources for her own private business."

Gallaugher and the other six plaintiffs are each seeking more than $85,000 in damages and legal fees.

The next hearing in Nohra’s criminal case is scheduled for July 29 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

21 News reached out to Christine Gallaugher's attorney Matthew Blair, as well as the school board, and they said, "No comment since it's ongoing litigation."