Man suing his ex-wife, who shot him

Severt, 42, filed suit in Greene County Common Pleas Court against Leah Severt, 39, and Mark Roysdon, 47.

The suit seeks compensation for pain and suffering, his permanent injuries, past and future lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. It seeks more than $25,000 for compensatory damages and whatever punitive damages the court may award.

Roysdon, a former Dayton and Miamisburg police officer, was Leah Severt’s boyfriend at the time Ed Severt was shot twice at his wife’s apartment on Sept. 14, 2010.

Leah Severt is doing time at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.

The lawsuit is the latest twist in a saga that initially had Ed Severt ask the judge, during his ex-wife’s June 20 plea agreement, to sentence her to probation, despite their divorce and the bullet that was still lodged in his chest.

“I was shocked,” Ed Severt said at the time of her sentencing. “I was surprised it was four years. I thought it would be two years.”

Ed Severt said two bullets were fired from a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that was provided to her by Roysdon, whom Leah Severt met when they both worked at Dayton Children’s Medical Center. She was a nurse. He was a security supervisor.

Both Severts said Roysdon encouraged the shooting by providing Leah Severt with the handgun, teaching her how to fire it and calling and telling her to shoot her husband as she held him captive in her apartment.

Roysdon has pleaded not guilty to all charges. On Thursday, his trial was scheduled to Nov. 9.

Leah Severt, as part of her plea deal, has promised to testify against Roysdon.

During her sentencing, she said: “I’m truly and deeply sorry for what I have done and the pain that I have caused all of our friends and family, and especially Ed.”

Leah Severt’s attorney was not available for comment.

Ed Severt’s attorney, Joseph W. Stadnicar, said the suit was filed before Roysdon’s trial because the statute of limitations for some aspects of the lawsuit were nearing the one-year limit.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.