Baltimore Officers File Suit Against Mosby Over Freddie Gray Prosecutions

Two officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray  are suing Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby for defamation and invasion of privacy, court records show.

Sgt. Alicia White and Officer William Porter, who are both facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 25-year-old's death last April, filed the lawsuit against Mosby, Baltimore Sheriff's Office Maj. Sam Cogen, and the state of Maryland in Baltimore Circuit Court on May 2, records show.

The officers claim Mosby and Cogen knew the statement of charges filed against the officers and other statements made by Mosby at her May 1, 2015, news conference announcing the charges "were false."

"These among other statements were made not for the purpose of prosecuting crimes that had allegedly been committed by White and Porter, but rather for purposes of quelling the riots in Baltimore," the suit alleges.

Legal experts expressed doubt that the lawsuit would be successful.

Dwight Pettit, who litigates civil cases in Baltimore but is not involved in this case, told the Baltimore Sun  prosecutors enjoy immunity from being sued "unless you can show some sort of malicious intent, which is a very steep burden."

"It's very unusual," he said of the officers' lawsuit. "The allegations would have to border on intentional conduct to cause them irreparable injury."