LANSING, MI -- Former Rep. Todd Courser was forced to resign and former Rep. Cindy Gamrat was expelled unconstitutionally, according to a notice of intent the duo's attorneys filed with the Court of Claims last month.

The representatives were ousted after an affair and cover-up became public. A House Business Office investigation found they had misused state resources. In a late-night session on Sept. 11, 2015 Courser resigned and the body voted to expel Gamrat.

The notice of intent, filed in the Court of Claims, preserves Courser and Gamrat's right to sue. It does not mean that a lawsuit has been initiated, but indicates one may be coming.

"These actions occurred in violation of Claimants' civil rights under the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution of 1963, as amended; including, but not limited to violations of due process, equal protection, double jeopardy, unlawful search and seizure, deprivation of salary, and other violations," reads the document.

Separately, Courser and Gamrat face criminal charges stemming out of an investigation from Attorney General Bill Schuette's office.

The notice of intent names as "Tier 1" defendants former staffers Keith Allard and Joshua Cline; the House of Representatives; House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant; House Business Director Tim Bowlin; Cotter Chief of Staff and General Counsel Brock Swartzle; former Cotter Chief of Staff and current Michigan Public Service Commissioner Norm Saari; and anonymous texter David Horr. Schuette was also named in the document as a "Tier 2" defendant.

The Tier 1 defendants acted "in concert" to bring evidence against Courser and Gamrat that was obtained through illegal search and seizure, illegal wiretapping and illegal eavesdropping, the document alleges. It accuses the Tier 1 defendants of conspiring to remove Courser and Gamrat from the House of Representatives.

The notice also accuses the Tier 1 defendants of falsely imprisoning Courser and Gamrat by confining them to the House floor while expulsion votes were taken.

Courser and Gamrat may sue for over $500,000 in damages for items including psychological and emotional distress, loss of wages, loss of standing in the community and damage to their reputations.

Against Schuette the document alleges that the expulsion procedure in Michigan's constitution goes against the broader document and the United States Constitution and states they may pursue more than $500,000 for their losses due to the unconstitutional provision.

Cotter spokesman Gideon D'Assandro said the House does not comment on ongoing litigation.

The notice was filed by Gamrat Attorney Robert Baker and Courser Attorney Matthew DePerno. Neither returned a call for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Emily Lawler is a Capitol reporter on MLive's statewide Impact Team. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.