ALEXANDRIA, Va. — An old lawsuit on record at the city courthouse reveals a moment of friction between John McCain’s mother and his ex-wife. Years later, McCain and his former wife presented a united front in a lawsuit of their own.
In a 1980 lawsuit, filed shortly after John and Carol McCain divorced, McCain’s mother, Roberta, sued Carol to reclaim some personal property. A settlement was reached in 1981.
In a brief telephone interview, Roberta denied filing the lawsuit. That denial prompted laughter from her former daughter-in-law. “Yes, she sued me,” Carol said.
In a 1990 lawsuit, John and Carol McCain jointly sought $1 million in punitive damages after a property management firm mistakenly threw out some McCain family treasures.
In an e-mail, McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said McCain “had no knowledge of the suit: He did not authorize the suit or participate in its filing.” But the attorney who represented the McCains said she did speak to McCain and get his permission to sue on his behalf.
