Mason City , USA - A defamation lawsuit filed by a pastor and his church against Mason City has been settled.
Attorneys for the Rev. Shane Philpott, (FIL'-pot) his Christian Fellowship Church and the city have not disclosed the settlement terms. Neither Philpott, the defendants nor any of the attorneys immediately returned calls Friday from The Associated Press.
According to the Mason City Globe Gazette, Philpott, his wife, Lisa, and the church sued the city, Police Chief Michael Lashbrook and Lt. Logan Wernet (wuhr-NET') in 2009. The lawsuit said Wernet made statements to the Internal Revenue Service in 2002 and 2004 that suggested the Philpotts were participating in illegal financial activities. The IRS later cleared the Philpotts.
The lawsuit says Lashbrook defamed the church in 2007 by calling it a cult.
The defendants denied the allegations.