CLEVELAND, Ohio - A civil lawsuit filed by three women against the City of Warren and one of its former police officers is expected to move slowly through the courts, with key deadlines indicating the case may not be resolved until at least mid-2026.

The lawsuit alleges that Edwards, while on duty as a Warren police officer, preyed on vulnerable women starting in 2019, committing acts including rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition and extortion. Edwards is serving a 34 to 39 year prison sentence following his conviction.

The women claim the City of Warren and its police chief are responsible for a "widespread practice" of officer sexual misconduct and for failing to properly oversee and discipline officers.

Edwards, through his attorney, filed his formal response, disagreeing with most of the claims made against him, broadly rejecting many specific allegations in the lawsuit, noting that his conviction is under appeal.

Court records show that a judge has set a timeline for the civil case, indicating it will take considerable time before a resolution is reached, either through a settlement or a trial.

U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan set several key dates in the proceedings. The deadline for parties to make changes to their official complaints or add other individuals to the lawsuit is Sept. 12, 2025. The cutoff for gathering most of the initial information and evidence is Jan. 16, 2026.

Parties have until Feb. 20, 2026, to ask the judge to dismiss parts or all of the case before a trial. Additionally, time is set aside from March through May 2026 for exchanging reports from expert witnesses and gathering more information from them.

The next check-in with the judge is a phone conference scheduled for Nov. 21, 2025.

The deadlines suggest that the period for exchanging information and preparing arguments will last for nearly a year. If the case is not settled, it could proceed to a trial after those dates, extending the process further.