Opinion ID: 1802431
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: allegations of child abuse and affidavit

Text: Respondent followed up on his threats and filed a federal civil rights action against Peetz, Fox, Rowse, Herzog, and other Holt County officials. This suit alleged that the defendants named therein violated Evan Zakrzewski's constitutional rights while acting under color of state law. Eventually, summary judgment was granted in favor of all defendants. See Zakrzewski v. Fox, 87 F.3d 1011 (8th Cir.1996). Prior to these dismissals and during the discovery period, respondent ascertained that Raff had filed a report of child abuse with the South Dakota Department of Social Services (South Dakota DSS) on June 2, 1993, the day after Heath was returned from his visit with Evan Zakrzewski. A letter from the South Dakota DSS dated June 10, 1993, was sent to Rowse informing him that the allegation would be investigated by Child Protective Services in Nebraska. A copy of this letter was also sent to Peetz. During the disciplinary proceedings, Raff testified that she wanted Peetz to have a copy of the letter so that it could be placed in her divorce file. Upon discovering the abuse allegation, respondent filed a motion in the district court for Holt County requesting an order to show cause as to why Raff and Peetz should not be held in contempt for violating the March 30, 1993, divorce decree because the abuse allegation was false and unsubstantiated. In support of the motion regarding Peetz, respondent prepared his own affidavit, wherein he alleged as follows: That during discovery being conducted for a Federal Civil Rights action I discovered that Ronda Raff, in concert with Forrest Peetz and at his direction, in order to injure and vilify the petitioner and to attempt to interfere with petitioner's rights granted by this court, had filed a false and malicious claim of child abuse of Heath Alexander Zakrzewski.... (Emphasis supplied.) A hearing on the motion was had in the district court for Holt County on October 13, 1994. After the hearing, the court refused to issue an order requiring Peetz to show cause why he should not be held in contempt. In reaching this conclusion, the court noted that the only evidence supporting respondent's contention that Peetz told Raff to file a false child abuse allegation was the June 10, 1993, letter from the South Dakota DSS that was copied to Peetz. According to the judge, that fact alone did not support respondent's contention.