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November 10, 2009

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Deputies cleared in death of Reno man

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000 | 4:58 a.m.

A Reno federal court jury deliberated just one hour Friday before rejecting a civil rights lawsuit accusing Dan Holub and Paul Martino of excessive force.

Phillip Maita died 15 days after he was injured in July 1996 as deputies entered his Carson City home in search of his grandson, Duke Maita.

According to the lawsuit filed by Maita stepson Mark Mattoon, Maita was knocked down and rendered unconscious for five days.

The lawsuit also alleges that deputies refused to call for medical help for nearly 30 minutes after the incident.

Carson Deputy Attorney Mark Forsberg argued that Maita was in the final stages of leukemia at the time and died of respiratory distress syndrome, not from any injuries he suffered that night.

Holub now is in real estate and Martino works for the Nevada Division of Investigations.

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