Rodgers file counter-claim in Jeremy Banks lawsuit

On yesterday, September 8th, an answer was filed in United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida; following recently reported news that FDLE Special Agent Rusty R. Rodgers had been cleared of any criminal conduct in the investigation of St Johns County sheriff’s deputy, Jeremy Banks, who Rodgers considers a “prime suspect” in the death of his former girlfriend, Michelle O’Connell.

Historic City News received a copy of Rodgers’ answer to the second amended civil action filed by Banks’ attorney, Robert L. “Mac” McLeod. Rodgers’ attorney, William J. Sheppard of Jacksonville, filed the response on behalf of Special Agent Rodgers as well as a counter-claim alleging malicious prosecution by Banks.

The civil lawsuit began at Banks’ instigation on March 5, 2014, as part of a campaign to disparage Rusty Rodgers, according to the complaint. Rodgers believes that given what he has learned in the course of his investigation, Deputy Banks is responsible for the death of Michelle O’Connell; and, because his findings expose the failure of the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office to properly investigate the crime, Sheriff David B Shoar is using his influence to shut the investigation down.

Rodgers states in his counter-claim, that Banks maliciously brought this lawsuit for the illegitimate purpose of retaliating against Rodgers for his investigation into the death of Michelle O’Connell and for the purpose of assisting Sheriff David Shoar in his ongoing campaign to disparage Rodgers.

The death of Michelle O’Connell became a national controversy, due in part to articles featured in the New York Times in November, 2013, portraying the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation in a negative light and offering the opinion that Jeremy Banks killed
Michelle O’Connell.

The Special Agent in charge of the FDLE Jacksonville Regional Operation Center and Crime Lab, Dominick Pape, who was Rodgers supervisor, resigned his position after Sheriff Shoar contacted his superiors in Tallahassee and threatened consequences if both Pape and Rodgers were not terminated. Rodgers was put on administrative leave.

Since Banks is persisting in his lawsuit, Rodgers now demands judgment against Banks for damages in the amount to be determined at trial, Rodgers’ costs and expenses incurred in the bringing of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees, and “any other relief that this court deems just and proper”. Rodgers also demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable.