MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Martinsburg attorney has filed a lawsuit against a Republican candidate for the West Virginia Senate, who is also her ex-boyfriend, claiming he didn't pay her for services she provided during his last campaign.
In the suit, filed this week in Berkeley County Circuit Court, Amanda L. Lewis alleged that Howard L. Strauss of Martinsburg retained her services in 1996 when he was running for the Berkeley County Commission.
The complaint said Lewis researched the qualifications for the job, discussed his candidacy with him and went over a campaign strategy to assist him. In the suit, Lewis said she made appearances on his behalf and Strauss agreed to pay her for the services.
She said Strauss accrued $420 in legal fees.
On Thursday, Strauss said the suit is politically motivated and there was never an agreement for payment. Strauss and Lewis were dating at the time of the 1996 election. He questions why she waited 11/2 years before filing a lawsuit.
