The legal saga of a man who claims a state trooper improperly searched his most private of areas for drugs has shifted to federal court — but he wants it to stay in state court.
A lawsuit by 25-year-old Jack Levine of Toms River was removed to federal court July 25 at the request of the deputy attorneys general who are representing the state police. The same day, Levine's attorney, Arthur Lang, asked that the case be returned to state court.
Levine is suing troopers Joseph Drew and Andrew Whitmore as well as the entire New Jersey State Police. His complaint alleges violations of his civil rights, a civil conspiracy, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of the state tort claims act. He is seeking a total of $900,000.