A Colorado man is suing a local district attorney claiming to have experienced "emotional and psychological trauma" after hearing stories that the DA used drugs.

Trevor Peterson of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is suing 6th Judicial District Attorney Todd Riesberg in small claims court for $5,000. Peterson claims he has been distressed by stories that his (unnamed) friend told him "they smoked together at Risberg’s sweet house a couple months ago." In a single-paragraph complaint, Peterson wrote that Risberg is an elected official, and stories of drug use make "Mr. Risberg unsuitable and unfit to perform required tasks/duties as District Attorney."

“I’m not even going to comment – it’s a ridiculous thing, legally and factually baseless. It’s ridiculous,” Riesberg said, after learning of the lawsuit through The Durango Herald's website.

Peterson said the DA’s office previously has charged him with domestic violence, but his lawsuit against Risberg is not vengeful, he said.

According to news reports, when asked about the merits of the claim, defense attorney and former public defender Tom Williamson brushed off the lawsuit, saying, "This guy lives in Colorado, and he’s emotionally and psychologically traumatized because he heard Risberg smoked pot? Maybe he needs to move. To Nebraska."

—Source: The Durango Herald (CO)