In November, Mahn launched the defamation case, alleging a “vindictive smear campaign” by Major Lindsey and its parent company, Allegis Group. Her 66-page amended complaint, filed alongside Friday’s motion, accuses the recruiter and Smith Gambrell attorneys of defamation, abuse of process, and infliction of emotional distress.
Mahn told the court that the attorneys made unprivileged defamatory statements, creating a conflict of interest as their testimony is needed to prove whether Major Lindsey or the law firm is liable. She argued the lawyers’ actions could expose them to malpractice claims, further complicating their ability to defend the recruiter.
Major Lindsey president John Cashman dismissed the motion as “the latest in a string of improper legal maneuvers,” accusing Mahn of avoiding accountability for her alleged misconduct. “She has improperly sued MLA for comments its attorneys made in legal briefs, and now she is trying to use those wrongheaded claims to deprive MLA of its chosen counsel,” he said in a statement.
