The city of Oneonta and their police chief have asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former police K-9 officer who claims he was wrongfully terminated after being accidentally shot by a colleague during a standoff with a suspect.

In February, Ryan Pinyan, a former Oneonta police officer, filed a lawsuit against the city and Chief Charles Clifton, accusing them of wrongful termination. The case was later transferred to federal court.

In their motions to dismiss on April 9, Clifton and the City argue that Pinyan’s suit is too broad and that “it is impossible to comprehend which specific factual allegations the plaintiff intends to support which of his causes of action, or how they do so.”

Clifton’s lawyers also argue that he cannot be held accountable, as he was not Pinyan’s employer. They specify that if anything, the complaint should be aimed at the city. It also says that there is no legal basis to sue Clifton for Pinyan’s predicament.

Oneonta’s brief argues that there are no legal grounds to sue them and that as a municipality, they are “immune from liability for conspiracy.”

The federal judge has given both sides in the case deadlines to respond to the motions to dismiss.

Lawyers for Pinyan, the city and the chief did not respond to requests for comment.

The shooting incident took place on a November morning in 2023 when Pinyan and other officers were dispatched to Sand Valley Road on reports of a suspicious person.

The suspect fled into the woods where a gunfight with law enforcement followed, according to the lawsuit. The suspect was killed, but the lawsuit also alleges that “one of the officers for the city of Oneonta, James Stevens, inadvertently shot Ryan Pinyan in his right leg from behind.” It took Pinyan weeks to recover, the suit says.

On Feb. 28, Pinyan’s lawyers submitted a complaint to the Blount County Circuit Court seeking damages for his wrongful termination months after he was shot. The document names the City of Oneonta, Chief Charles Clifton and three unnamed individuals as defendants.

Months after the shooting, Pinyan was on his way to a grand jury hearing in Blount County when he was stopped by Clifton, the lawsuit says.

In court filings, Pinyan said he was terminated from his position without due process. He lost his car, weapon and badge without any clarification on what he did wrong, according to the lawsuit.

It also alleges that he lost $10,000 he had raised for the medical care of his police dog, Boogieman, who was injured in the field.