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Last updated on Tuesday, November 17, 2015
(STORY) - The owner Story Inn owner who was sued for allegedly ruining a summer wedding has filed a countersuit against the bride and groom, the bride’s brother and the lawyer representing them.
The lawyer claims that his client was the injured party and that "terrible lies" have damaged his reputation and the reputation of his business.
The countersuit claims the couple's attorney violated Indiana's rules of professional attorney conduct for publicizing untruths. He also is suing the wedding couple for defamation of character as well as Christopher Voyles, the brother, for physically attacking Hofstetter and preventing him from making a 911 call for help.
A Clarksville couple who were married at the Story Inn on June 7 claim their $13,000 dream wedding was ruined after Richard Hofstetter, the owner of the Story Inn, crashed the celebration and drunkenly hit on the bride and drove the couple's three daughters around in a golf cart without their permission while drunk.
Chris and Ashley Whitfield filed a lawsuit on September 11 against Hofstetter. They asked for their money back and compensation for damages.
Hofstetter's attorney Greg Garrison says that the allegations made by the newlyweds damaged Hofstetter's business and standing in the community.
According to Ashley, Hofstetter approached her more than once after the ceremony, hitting on her, despite her attempts to ignore him.
"He said he wanted to take me home with him and said things that he would do to me," Ashley says. "It was extremely inappropriate,'" she added.
After fending off his advances, Ashley alleges he then propositioned her 68-year-old mother.
Hofstetter denied the allegations and said he did not proposition anyone, nor was he intoxicated.
The couple asked him to leave after they learned from other guests that he had been driving their children around in a golf cart drunk.
"He said, 'I'm the owner of this place'," Whitfield said. "And I said, 'We paid a lot of money for this venue, I don't want you here.'"
Former Story Inn catering employee Elizabeth Burris said she had to step in to try to help calm the situation. She claims she had to physically muscle Hofstetter away from the wedding because he was "so drunk."
Hofstetter claims he never met the bride and never spoke to her. He claims that all the wedding details were handled by staff.
Hofstetter claims the groom and others threatened "bodily harm" against him. He also claims that he removed his cellphone from his pocket and attempted to call 911. The innkeeper claims the bride's brother struck him on the hand and wrist, knocking the phone to the ground. He also claims the man threw the phone battery into a creek.
Hofstetter's hand was bruised and he says suffered pain and is accusing the brother of battery.
A Brown County Sheriff's deputy was called to the scene. Police say Hofstetter failed a field-sobriety test and smelled like alcohol. The deputy described the 59-year-old Hofstetter as "uncooperative."
No arrests were made, but the deputy referred the case to the prosecutor. The bride and groom, the wedding party and family and friends left around midnight after police arrived and questioned everyone. They checked into the Comfort Inn in nearby Nashville.
Brown County Prosecutor Ted Adams, a friend of Hofstetter's and also the recipient of a campaign contribution from him, forwarded the report to a special prosecutor in order to avoid a conflict of interest.
A special prosecutor was assigned to look into the allegations on both sides to determine if any crimes were committed. No charges have been lodged.
A hearing in the case on a possible change of venue from Brown County is scheduled for December 2 in Brown Circuit Court.
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