Stacey Barchenger

sbarchenger@tennessean.com

A federal judge has reopened a case against Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk while clearing Metro Government of responsibility in the matter.

Developer David Chase sued Funk and Assistant District Attorney General Katy Miller over how the prosecutors handled his domestic violence case. It was part of a complex web of court cases that connect Funk and Chase.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger granted Funk and Miller's motions to dismiss Chase's lawsuit because Chase's lawyer, John Boucher of Knoxville, missed a deadline to file a response.

Boucher explained that he was mistakenly following rules of federal court in East Tennessee, not Middle Tennessee.

David Chase v. Glenn Funk dismissed — maybe

He appealed, and Trauger on Tuesday reopened the case.

"There is no excuse for plaintiff’s counsel’s failure to familiarize himself with the Local Rules of this court, in which he chose to file this case," Trauger wrote in an order. She set Sept. 23 as the new deadline to respond.

Trauger dismissed the lawsuit's claims against Metro Government. The government had filed a motion to dismiss in August saying it was not responsible for Funk and Miller because they are state employees.

Judge reopens case against Nashville prosecutor

Reach Stacey Barchenger at 615-726-8968 or on Twitter @sbarchenger.