Published: June 13, 2008 10:53 pm      

Judge grants injunction against Soboroff

CLINTON — A Clinton County District Court judge has issued an injunction against a Calamus man that will prohibit him from potentially harassing county offices.

Jeffrey A. Soboroff, 57, is accused of repeatedly calling Clinton County offices, including the county attorney, auditor, board of supervisors, communications and sheriff’s department, causing “workplace disruption and loss of productivity.” The petition, filed in April, asked the court to restrain Soboroff from further harassment by making unnecessary and multiple phone calls to any of the offices.

Included in the filing were several affidavits from county officials and employees testifying to the nature and frequency of the calls from Soboroff, stating the calls have nothing to do with county business and are unnecessary, deeming the calls “a waste of county time and money.”

On Thursday, Seventh Judicial District Judge David H. Sivright Jr. granted the temporary injunction.

“The employees of the county offices here involved must be able to perform their functions free of interaction with Jeffery Soboroff that is irrelevant to the purpose of their office, and free of conduct by him that is profane and demeaning,” the ruling states.

“The public has a right to access necessary county services by telephone without delays that may be forced by calls to such offices that are irrelevant to the functions of such offices and disruptive.”

In the ruling, the court states Soboroff shall only call or visit any of the county offices for legitimate purposes specifically related to the governmental functions of each. The ruling also states if Soboroff must telephone or visit one of the county offices, he shall limit his communication to the legitimate purpose necessitating such contact and shall not use profane, abusive or demeaning language.

In February, Soboroff was found not guilty of first-degree harassment following an incident in August. On April 3, Soboroff was convicted of making threats to poison the city of Calamus’ water supply and was placed on five years probation.

Charges including three counts of harassment in the third degree and one count of extortion were brought against Soboroff following incidents occurring while he was on trial for the threats charge on March 10. Soboroff has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin July 21 at 9 a.m.