Dave Gorcyca Among Former Prosecutors Sued For Malicious Prosecution

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A jury has heard opening statements in a lawsuit against former prosecutors who accused an Oakland County couple of sexual abuse before charges were dropped.

Julian and Thal Wendrow are accusing the former prosecutors of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. Trial began Thursday in Ann Arbor federal court.

The Wendrows were charged in a sex-abuse case involving their autistic daughter before prosecutors dropped it in 2008. The case was developed through a disputed method of communicating through a keyboard with an adult's help.

Deborah Gordon, representing the Wendrows, says prosecutors wanted a "notch on their belt." An attorney for the former prosecutors says they erred on the side of caution.

The former prosecutors being sued are David Gorcyca, Deb Carley and Andrea Dean.