By fitsnews – July 8, 2010
By FITSNews || Two S.C. lawmakers are among numerous defendants named in a $20 million lawsuit filed this week by the mayor of Atlantic Beach. The suit, which was jointly filed by Mayor Retha Pierce and several other plaintiffs – seeks to address a host of issues related to the troubled coastal town.
S.C. Senator Dick Elliott, a Democrat, and Rep. Tracy Edge, a Republican, were named in the suit along with several local council members, city staffers, election commissioners, and the town of Atlantic Beach itself. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Florence, S.C. Eight other plaintiffs joined Pierce in filing the lawsuit, which includes allegations of election fraud, voter intimidation and – in one case – individuals reportedly impersonating federal agents.
None of those charges appear to involve Elliot or Edge, however.
Elliott is merely accused of using his influence to keep the town from being audited. Meanwhile, Edge is accused of repeatedly meddling in the town’s affairs and attempting to oust Pierce in favor of a mayoral candidate of his choosing – which as far as we can tell isn’t illegal. Edge has called the charges “unfounded” and has promised to file a counter suit against Pierce.
Pierce’s suit claims that the plaintiffs have suffered “intimidation, fear, diminished living conditions and quality of life, intense emotional distress, public humiliation, incurred litigation costs, damage to their reputations and other injury.”
Stay tuned … Atlantic Beach is certifiably “coo coo for cocoa puffs,” so this could be a wild ride!
