Judge sues his assailant

RENO -- Washoe County Family Court Judge Chuck Weller has sued a former Reno pawn shop owner who shot and injured him while he stood in his chambers in 2006.

The District Court lawsuit filed last week against Darren Mack seeks general, special and punitive damages totaling more than $100,000.

Mack, 46, was sentenced on Feb. 8 to life in prison with parole possible after 20 years for fatally stabbing his estranged wife, Charla Mack, in June 2006.

At the same time, Mack was sentenced to 40 years with parole possible after 16 years for the same-day, sniper-style shooting of Weller, who was handling their bitter divorce. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.

Weller declined to comment on the lawsuit.

"The document speaks for itself," he told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Mack's civil lawyer, Mark Wray, said he was "mystified" by the suit. He said Mack has long since lost the fortune he earned from the pawn shop and his client's 9-year-old daughter is getting the last of it.

The judge has incurred medical and other expenses as a result of the attack, and fears for his own safety as well as that of his family, according to the lawsuit.

Weller suffers "from nightmares and from post-traumatic stress and has in the past and will in the future suffer loss of enjoyment of life and profession," the lawsuit added.

Also targeted in the lawsuit are unnamed "Doe" conspirators who "aided, counseled, encouraged and assisted and participated" with Mack in carrying out the attacks.