DaytonDailyNews.com

Stephanie Studebaker, who dropped out of the 3rd District congressional race last year after she and her husband were arrested on domestic violence charges, is suing her former father-in-law for making the 911 call that led to her arrest.

Studebaker, a Democrat who challenged U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, in the early part of 2006, dropped out of the race after both she and her husband were booked into the Montgomery County Jail last August on charges of domestic violence.

Now, she's brought a civil lawsuit against her former father-in-law, who made the call at the request of his son. Studebaker accuses James Studebaker of defaming her by saying she was "extremely violent" and by saying she "has a history of alcohol abuse" and "a history of domestic violence."

In her complaint, filed in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court last week, Stephanie Studebaker argues that James Studebaker knew that his comments were public comments that could be recorded and publicized in the media, and said as a result of those comments, she "suffered injury to her reputation and was exposed to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame and disgrace." The comments, according to the complaint, hurt her career in politics and hurt her in her career as a veterinarian.

Stephanie Studebaker and Samuel Studebaker are now divorced.

She seeks $2 million in damages — $500,000 for lost compensation, including the $337,000 she would've made in Congress had she been elected, the $7,678.71 she spent pursuing the position, and compensation for the more than 2,000 hours of time she devoted to the campaign at a cost of $52 an hour. She's also seeking $1.5 million in punitive damages.

James Studebaker, of Union, declined to comment on an attorney's advice. An attorney for Stephanie Studebaker did not return calls for comment Monday.