By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – Attorney Edward Narrow has filed a notice of claim accusing St. Lawrence District Attorney Mary Rain of malicious prosecution and defamation of character.

“We will seek monetary damages from her and the county,” he said. “I think there is a problem in St. Lawrence County. We have a careless and reckless district attorney.”

The claim filed Thursday says Narrow suffered deprivation of his civil rights, privileges and immunities secured by the Constitution of the State of New York.

“The respondents’ intentional, malicious, reckless, and/or negligent actions and conduct subjected and caused Edward F. Narrow, Esq., to suffer deprivation of his civil rights, privileges and immunities secured by the Federal Constitution and the laws and Constitution of the State of New York,” the claim states.

Narrow was cleared Feb. 23 by a grand jury of allegations of criminal behavior related to the trial of Oral “Nick” Hillary.

Special prosecutor Gary Miles called the grand jury to investigate allegations from Rain that Narrow committed a crime during the Hillary trial.

Narrow said now that he has been issued a “no-bill” by the grand jury he intends to seek damages from Rain and the county.

Narrow said he believes his law firm Dumas & Narrow P.C., Canton, has seen a major decline in clients following the accusations made by Rain against his firm. The attorney says Rain has used subpoenas and grand jury indictments to settle personal scores and while he is relieved that his name has been cleared, others still have a shadow looming over them.

Narrow said Rain has targeted various county officials including Joseph R-Lightfoot and former County Administrator Karen St. Hillaire.

“She has issued over 100 grand jury subpoenas. I had my day in front of the jury and have been cleared, but many others like Ms. St. Hilaire and Mr. Lightfoot have not been so fortunate,” he said.

In the claim, Rain is accused of keeping an “enemies list” of individuals “upon whom she seeks to avenge herself for imagined wrongs and slights.”

Narrow says Rain went after him without any probable cause, which is why he was cleared by the grand jury.

“Neither myself nor anyone else on the Hillary defense team committed any criminal acts during the trial, I am not sure we can say the same thing with the prosecution and their failure to hand over evidence,” he said. “I think her targeting my firm, Dumas and Narrow P.C. is a result that she lost the case and can’t let it go.”

A notice of claim is required to be filed prior to filing a lawsuit, and announces a party’s intention to sue another.

It marks the latest chapter in Rain’s checkered tenure, which has included various accusations made by and against she and her office, which has seen more than 15 assistant district attorneys leave since she took over. That includes multiple chief ADAs, at least two of which have resigned.

In April the county took a “no-confidence” vote and called on the governor to launch an investigation regarding a host of alleged wrongdoings.

Later, in December, the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators passed a resolution asking Rain to step down.

Rain, who still presides as district attorney, is also being investigated by the Third Judicial Department's Committee on Professional Standards.

Rain has not yet announced she will run for a second term as the county’s chief prosecutor.