AUBURN — The ex-wife of Sabattus Police Chief Gary Baillargeon is accusing him of abusing her throughout their marriage.
A four-day jury trial between Lori Baillargeon and Gary Baillargeon is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 30, at Androscoggin County Superior Court.
According to the initial complaint, filed in September 2014, Lori Baillargeon said that during their marriage and specifically within the two years preceding the complaint, Gary Baillargeon “committed multiple acts of physical assault and violence” upon her and “threatened further violence.”
She also alleges he struck her on multiple occasions, “violently pushed her head into walls,” and frequently grabbed and restrained her body with “sufficient force and severity to cause injury.”
The complaint was filed by Lori Baillargeon days after divorce proceedings began in September 2014.
Her complaint levies three claims against Baillargeon: assault and battery, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and malice.
The complaint states that she is seeking judgment “in an amount which will fairly compensate her, plus restitution, together with punitive and/or exemplary damages.”
During a pretrial conference Thursday afternoon, Justice MaryGay Kennedy addressed a motion by Lori Baillargeon to dismiss four counterclaims that Gary Baillargeon had filed against her, including abuse of process, defamation, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and interference with an advantageous relationship.
Kennedy said she was dismissing three of the four counterclaims, but would allow Gary Baillargeon to proceed with the claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
She said Baillargeon did not allege that his ex-wife physically abused him; he alleged “public embarrassment, inability to care for his daughter, and the potential loss of his job,” which met the requirements of the claim.
Baillargeon was appointed Sabattus police chief in January 2016 after serving for several years as a detective sergeant with the department.
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