Lawsuit: Former New Middletown man seeks $1.7M, alleges retaliation

A former resident of New Middletown has filed a $1.7 million civil rights lawsuit against the village and several of its officials, alleging a pattern of harassment and retaliation that included blocking his vehicles with snow and concrete.

Alexander Knappenberger, a musician and video creator who lived in the Mahoning County village from 2019 to 2024, claims in his complaint filed in U.S. District Court that former Mayor Harry Kale, Village Administrator Charles Foster, Village Clerk and Fiscal Officer Kathleen Foster, and Zoning Inspector Monte Weimer, among others, violated his constitutional rights and state law.

The lawsuit claims equal protection violations, civil rights interference under Ohio law, and tampering with public records to his initial claims of First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights violations.

According to the complaint, after Knappenberger criticized the village online, officials retaliated by deliberately plowing snow to obstruct his vehicles and selectively enforcing "no parking" signs near his residence, allowing neighbors to park without issue.

Knappenberger further alleges that the village's acquisition of a nearby derelict property in March 2023 was part of a scheme to harass him. He also contends that he received meritless zoning violations, including a claim about his garage lacking permits, and that concrete blocks placed to obstruct his driveway were retaliatory and discriminatory.

The lawsuit details an incident where Knappenberger was charged with criminal mischief, later reduced, after moving a concrete block blocking his truck. He claims the then-police chief expressed sympathy at the time.

The complaint also raises concerns about the village allegedly misusing its police force to provide security for private events hosted by a neighbor who was a friend of the former mayor. Additionally, Knappenberger claims the village violated Ohio public records laws by failing to provide requested documents and alleges tampering with public records related to complaints he filed with the police department.

Knappenberger contends the village's actions, including the alleged harassment, obstruction of his property, and citations, caused him severe emotional distress, and that the village failed to intervene to prevent the alleged constitutional violations. The lawsuit also alleges the Village of New Middletown maintained policies or customs that led to the alleged unlawful conduct by its officials.

Knappenberger is seeking $750,000 in compensatory damages and $950,000 in punitive damages, along with other relief, and has demanded a jury trial.

In January 2022, 21 News reported that Knappenberger felt "targeted" after village snowplows blocked his garage. At the time, the village issued a statement saying it plows all alleys and streets in the same manner and that property owners are responsible for clearing their driveways. Knappenberger had previously fought and won against the village in court regarding citations for his vehicles.

The defendants have yet to file a response to the lawsuit.  21 News emailed the village solicitor seeking comment, but has yet to receive a response.