Federal lawsuit against sheriff over ‘Bad Bruce Exhibit’ could go to jury trial

Unless a settlement can be reached, a federal lawsuit pitting a Palmyra man against the Portage County sheriff and two sheriff’s office deputies may be headed for jury trial.

On May 6, 2025, U.S. Marine Corps veteran William Lane filed suit in Ohio Northern District Court alleging that the sheriff and his subordinates retaliated against him for creating a social media page critical of the sheriff’s office.

Named in the lawsuit are Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski, Capt. Robert James and Major Michael Davis.

In April 2024, Lane began publishing Facebook posts on a page he created called “The Bad Bruce Exhibit.” He said the page was intended to encourage Portage County residents to support Zuchowski’s opponent, Jon Barber, in the November 2024 election. Barber lost the election by about 1,200 votes.

Lane’s lawsuit alleges that on Sept. 21, 2024, a person identifying himself as Jonathan Porter created a Facebook page entitled the “Will Lane Exhibit,” and published posts that included Lane’s home and email addresses and phone number. The posts also alleged that Lane was a narcotics user and dealer, and that he was a “woman beater,” the lawsuit states.

“None of the above statements is true,” the lawsuit states. “Jonathan Porter, the purported creator of the ‘Will Lane Exhibit’ did not exist. James, acting with Zuchowski’s knowledge and consent, actually posted the ‘Will Lane Exhibit,’ and created Jonathan Porter to conceal James’ and Zuchowski’s involvement with the publication of the ‘Will Lane Exhibit.’”

Lane’s lawsuit asks for $1.5 million in compensatory damages, $1.5 million in punitive damages and $750,000 from Portage County for its alleged role in permitting “a culture of corruption” in the sheriff’s office.

The defendants’ response, filed June 30, is that James posted Lane’s address, phone number and address, without Zuchowski’s prior knowledge. The sheriff only found out later about the information, which included what the defendants say was publicly available information about Lane’s criminal activity.

In November 2023, Lane was convicted of two fifth-degree felony counts of obstructing official business in Erie County Common Pleas Court. The charges represent a plea deal from original F-5 charges of causing or creating a substantial risk of physical harm by means of strangulation or suffocation. He is currently serving two years of probation.

The defendants state that also without Zuchowski’s knowledge, Davis contacted the state to ask about Lane’s license to grow industrial hemp. The inquiry was not intended to see if Lane’s license could be cancelled, the defendants say.

The answer cites multiple reasons why Zuchowski, James and Davis cannot be sued. And Lane is not legally entitled to punitive damages, it states.

The defendants “acted in good faith and without malice, and had “legitimate, non-retaliatory reasons for the acts [Lane] complained of,” the answer states.

Unless Lane and the defendants can agree to a settlement or dismissal, presiding Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. has set a case management conference for July 22.