(Editor's note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.)
September 24, 2018—Former Automotive Service Association (ASA) president Dan Risley has filed a lawsuit against the ASA and one of its former board members, Ed Cushman, as was first reported by the Florida Record.
Risley, who left ASA earlier in the year for a position with CCC Information Services, filed a complaint on Sept. 12 in the 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - Orange County, against the defendants alleging that they wrongfully made false statement about him during a board meeting in Orlando, according to the report.
The plaintiff alleges that as a direct result of Cushman's statements, he has suffered damages. The plaintiff holds Cushman and the ASA responsible, because Cushman wrongfully accused him of engaging in sexual misconduct.
According to the Florida Record, Risley claims that ASA is liable for the defamatory statements because they were made in Cushman's official capacity as a board member during the association's annual meeting in May.
Risley said that he is pursuing a lawsuit against a former board member but since it is pending litigation, he has no further information to add.
Roy Schnepper, ASA Chairman said, "There is a pending lawsuit filed by former ASA President and Executive Director Dan Risley against former ASA Board Member Ed Cushman based on an accusation he made against Dan Risley during a board of directors meeting. Although Mr. Cushman is no longer a board member, he was serving on the board at the time of the accusation. As a result, ASA is named in the suit. Due to ongoing litigation we are not able to comment any further."
