The lawsuit against Schuylkill County Sheriff Joe Groody has been dismissed.

An order by Lebanon Senior Judge Robert J. Eby issued Dec. 22 said the plaintiff’s amended complaint is dismissed with prejudice, meaning Doug Litwhiler can’t refile. The order also states a response to preliminary objections filed by Groody were not responded to by Litwhiler within the required 20-day time frame.

Eby’s opinion filed Oct. 26 where he wrote “the plaintiff’s failure to specifically identify the actual defamatory statements or the defendant allegedly making the statements, renders his complaint insufficient.”

Eby had dismissed the complaint with prejudice in October against Anthony Kodack and Ranae Warcola.

Litwhiler, who ran for sheriff and lost against Groody, sued him, Kodack and Warcola in Schuylkill County Court.

The filing, for defamation and civil conspiracy, alleges Groody threatened Litwhiler in a phone call and said that “it was going to be Groody’s last term and requested Litwhiler wait for four years.”

According to the suit, Groody also told Litwhiler that if he entered the sheriff’s race, that he “would ruin plaintiff’s reputation, his jobs and his family.”

It also alleges the posts were made at Groody’s direction and that the statements were made with “reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of the statements.”

The sheriff has denied the accusations. Kodack is the creator of the page “Schuylkill County Sheriff Candidate Doug Litwhiler likes young girls, which he said “he started to give women an outlet to speak. Warcola is an administrator of the page.

J.T. Herber, attorney for Groody, said Friday the ruling is appreciated. He said everyone can now move on from this.

“We’re obviously pleased with the outcome,” he said.

Groody was also happy.

“It was a false case to begin with,” he said.

Litwhiler was unaware of the Dec. 22 ruling. Litwhiler said he would talk with Joe Orso II, his attorney, and they would refile.

“We can file a lawsuit for every day that stuff has been up there,” Litwhiler said.