FORT MITCHELL — Assistant Kenton County Attorney John Middleton issued a formal apology to attorney Eric Deters on Friday, settling a slander lawsuit filed by Mr. Deters over remarks about his late wife.

        The one-sentence apology read: “Dear Mr. Deters: I apologize to you, your wife, your children and Lisa's family for the remarks I made at the Ft.Mitchell Baptist Church on Feb. 15, 2001. Sincerely, John C. Middleton.”

        Mr. Deters, who is running against incumbent County Attorney Garry Edmondson in a Republican primary, shocked a GOP Executive Committee meeting Monday night with allegations that Mr. Middleton was spreading a rumor that Lisa Deters, who died of lung cancer in 1998, actually died because of a sexually transmitted disease.

        Mr. Deters said Friday he was “pleased it is over, and pleased that Mr. Middleton has done the right thing and apologized. I will forgive his remarks and turn my attention to genuine issues in my campaign against Mr. Edmondson.”

        Attorney Greg Shumate, Kenton County Republican Party Chairman, said Friday he served as mediator between the two men and brokered the settlement to end the suit filed in Kenton Circuit Court.

        “My feeling is this will put us back on track,” Mr. Shumate said. “We can run races like we should. In the long run, I believe it will heal the wounds.”

        In a statement issued Friday, Mr. Middleton denied liability for slander and denied his comments were as sworn to by a supporter of Mr. Deters, Independence Councilman Jim Kudera, who said he heard Mr. Middleton's comments at a prayer breakfast Feb. 15.

        “I settled this lawsuit for the good of the Republican Party,” Mr. Middleton said. “This lawsuit had the potential to tear the party apart.”

        In apologizing to Lisa Deters' family and friends, he said “I intended only to inquire regarding the factual circumstances regarding a rumor.”

        Mr. Middleton also emphasized that his boss, Mr. Edmondson, had no knowledge of his comments.

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