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Woman in nudity case says officers are hindering her work

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A 24-year-old woman convicted of public nudity is demanding restitution from the city of Lincoln and the police department, claiming that officers are intimidating bar owners to keep them from hiring her for promotions.

Melissa Harrington of Lincoln was sentenced in August to six months' probation for violating a public decency ordinance. Harrington had hosted a wet T-shirt contest at a Lincoln bar in March.

The police said she was topless, but Harrington said she had covered her nipples and areolae with pink paint.

Harrington filed a claim before the Nebraska State Claims Board Tuesday, seeking $75,000 in damages for what she says are lost business opportunities. Harrington said she would donate the proceeds to the Lincoln City Mission if she wins.

Under state law, in order to collect damages from a political subdivision such as a city, a person must first submit a claim requesting payment. If that claim is denied, the person can then file a lawsuit.

Since her June conviction, Harrington said that when she would enter a downtown bar, three to four police officers would stand within 10 feet of her for up to four hours, "apparently because the threat of Harrington was of bigger significance than other crimes that may be occurring in Lincoln."

She said her number of appearances at bars has been greatly reduced.

Harrington also said her picture was being disseminated in city literature, warning bar owners not to hire Internet models.

Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said he had no reaction to the claim.

In 2004, Harrington was fined $150 after posting nude pictures of herself on the Web.

She had violated Lincoln's public nudity ordinance by posing naked for the pictures at a downtown Lincoln bar and at several other Lincoln locations.

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