(SALISBURY, Md.)- Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton's guilty verdict in a civil suit has been reversed, according to city officials.
In December of 2014, Mayor Ireton was found guilty after former city employee, Lore Chambers, filed a civil suit against him.
Court documents show Chambers, who was his second-in-command at the time, had accused Mayor Ireton of verbally attacking her while in her office in July 2013. She claims an argument broke out about her application to become the city's permanent administrator. Court documents show, she feared for her safety and said she suffered nightmares after the ordeal.
Ireton denied it all, allegedly when she raised her voice, he then raised his voice. But Mayor Ireton says he never came within 8 feet of her during the argument.
Chambers' lawsuit initially sought $750,000 in damages, but was capped at $200,000 by the state because she worked in local government.
A jury found him guilty of verbally assaulting chambers, but it was determined he acted without malice, according to court documents.
The judge decided to reverse the ruling because if there was no malice there was no assault.