A federal lawsuit

against Peachtree City and one of its police officers is headed toward

mediation.

U.S. District

Judge Jack T. Camp Jr. has ordered the city to participate in mediation

talks with Carolyn O'Keefe, who claims she was injured when she was arrested

violence incident in 1998.

In his order,

the judge said the mediation should be non-binding and that both parties

will retain their right to a trial if necessary. Camp also ordered the

parties to split the cost of mediation unless they can agree to a different

arrangement.

The O'Keefe

family has a federal lawsuit pending against the city, but most of the

family's claims have been dismissed by the court. The only issue remaining

is whether Carolyn O'Keefe was injured when she was arrested.

The suit claims

Carolyn O'Keefe was pushed violently into a wall as Roman arrested her,

causing back injuries. Court documents indicate she had back problems

before her arrest.

Any testimony

from O'Keefe herself, however, may be called into question. According

to court documents, she underwent hypnosis to recall facts of the incident

before she testified in a deposition on the case.

Attorneys for

Peachtree City could possibly use that to bar O'Keefe as a witness. According

to court documents, the incident was witnessed by two of the O'Keefes'

daughters in addition to her husband, Kevin and her son, Thomas.

Carolyn O'Keefe

was arrested for obstruction of a police officer after she walked away

from officer Roman and Sgt. Wendell D. Lamb, against their orders.

Kevin O'Keefe

was arrested after he retreated into the kitchen while Sgt. Lamb tried

to investigate the potential domestic disturbance. Thomas O'Keefe was

arrested for simple battery after he tried to shove aside the arm of Officer

James B. Hughes while Carolyn O'Keefe, his mother, was being arrested

The O'Keefes

were originally convicted of those charges before the verdict was overturned

based on a lack of probable cause to enter the residence.

In a December

ruling, Judge Hunt dismissed most of the O'Keefes' claims, saying the

officers did not illegally enter their home because Sgt. Lamb, who entered

first, believed a domestic dispute had occurred and officer Roman and

officer Hughes entered to insure Lamb's safety upon his request for assistance.

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