Judge Dismisses Cherfilus-McCormick’s Defamation Suit Against Elijah Manley Over Failure to Serve
The case was tossed without prejudice after the court found she did not serve Manley within 120 days.
Overview
- Judge Daniel Casey dismissed the $1 million libel and slander case on Jan. 8 after ruling that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick failed to serve Elijah Manley within the court-ordered 120 days.
- The dismissal was without prejudice, which ends the case for now but allows Cherfilus-McCormick to refile.
- Cherfilus-McCormick filed the suit on Sept. 3, 2025, alleging Manley defamed her in a campaign ad and a letter to the editor that accused her of misusing federal COVID-related funds.
- Manley celebrated the ruling and said he is exploring a $1 million countersuit for tortious interference, abuse of process, defamation, and malicious prosecution.
- Separate from the civil dispute, Cherfilus-McCormick faces a pending federal indictment alleging misuse of disaster funds to benefit her 2021 campaign, to which she has pleaded not guilty.