By Alabama Public Radio
Fairhope, AL – A federal judge has dismissed the city of Fairhope, Police Chief Chris Browning and three other officials from a lawsuit. The suit was brought by a former jail inmate who claims that a guard coerced her into having sex. Federal Judge William Steele did allow the suit to continue against former guard Chad Little. His trial is now set for May. Fairhope officials hailed Wednesday's ruling as an important and expected victory. The woman told city officials in 2003 that Little had forced her into having intercourse five times in six months during her incarceration. The city fired Little shortly after her statement. The woman was serving a jail sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree assault.