Anthony Sowell "Cleveland Strangler" Case Fuels Lawsuits Against City

CLEVELAND (CBS/AP) Families of five of the 11 women whose remains were found in the home of convicted sex offender Anthony Sowell are suing the city of Cleveland.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed Wednesday also names several police officers and an assistant prosecutor.

The families claim the women would not have died if Cleveland authorities had not released 50-year-old Sowell after he was arrested and held for two days in December 2008.

Sowell has pleaded not guilty to killing the women. He is scheduled to go on trial in February.

The mayor's office and the police department did not immediately return phone calls and e-mails from The Associated Press seeking comment.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF ANTHONY SOWELL ON CRIMESIDER