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Anderson council member answers libel lawsuit
Anderson County Council member Cindy Wilson listens during a June 2007 meeting.
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ANDERSON COUNTY — An Anderson County Council member has asked a judge to dismiss a $5 million libel lawsuit against her.
Cindy Wilson said campaign material released about Anderson County Farmer’s Market Manager Brandon Grace was not malicious, so the lawsuit should be dismissed.
On June 3, Grace sued Wilson for libel, claiming that in both printed campaign material and information on her Web site, Wilson had accused Grace of “violating ethical standards” by awarding himself a prize package for an event he organized. Grace’s lawsuit stated the statements were untrue and that Wilson should have not only known the truth about the event but verified the accuracy of the information before publishing it.
In her answer, filed on Aug. 1, Wilson’s attorney, Ross Plyler of Greenville, claimed that Grace has suffered no injury to his reputation or standing in the community and, therefore, has no claim for defamation.
The answer asks for the complaint to be dismissed with costs and for the court to award Wilson reasonable attorney fees and costs.
Grace’s attorney, Nancy Jo Thomason, in a reply to Wilson’s answer, said the lawsuit was not Grace’s fault and that Wilson should not be awarded attorneys’ fees.
According to the Anderson County Clerk of Courts Public Access System, the case is on the Anderson County common pleas court master docket list for Dec. 31.
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The actions of Cindy Wilson seem to never stop! Once again the legal wrath looms around this council person. Clearly,she is ruining her family name through her vile accusations and contempt for the council/administration form of government, not to mention the local republican party. I am not certain that the $ 8,900.00 salary of council members is worth having courtrooms as your second residence. She needs to stop her attempts to defame county employees as well as private citizens.
With all the lawsuits on the horizon, her reputation she is nothing but trouble to the people of Anderson County.
I think it is apparent from these recent events that Cindy Wilson can dish it out, but she's not very good at taking it.
Don't you people care where your tax money is going. I like to know, what it's being wasted on, and by who. And, I wish, we had Cindy Wilson in district four. She's the only one there, trying to make sure your money, is not being wasted.
There was no reason for Ms. Wilson to accuse Mr. Grace of cheating during a non profit organization's fundraiser (that Mr. Grace supports and volunteers with). She crossed the line again.
This has nothing to do with Joey Preston. Brandon Grace just happens to work for the county.
Is it not fitting that only cwilson4 is the only comment on here, thus far, that jumps to the defense of MCW? This is exactly a "what goes around comes around" as pointed out so perfectly by Lamanamanumi. I hope that Anderson County is beginning to see MCW for what she really is. Go Brandon! Go!
I just have one thing to say to Cindy Wilson
GET A LIFE!
I believe Mr. Grace has lots of support. I know that I hope he wins.....He did nothing wrong!! He is just a county employee that was volunteering for the special olympic population.
He should never have been slandered verbally or in print.
I don't believe that there was even an appology from Ms. Wilson. At least I never heard about one.
Good luck Brandon Grace.
Cindy Wilson needs to go -- what a waste of fresh air...
Ms. Wilson has slandered NO ONE yet the prestion-ites will not leave it along.
The gang of 5 and Preston himself should be sued for slandering her with all the Cheap and shoddy stuff she has taken in recent years just to try show the taxpayers where their money is being wasted.
In both printed campaign material and information on her Web site, Wilson accused Grace of “violating ethical standards” by awarding himself a prize package for an event he organized. Is this slanderous??
I believe it is as he did not award himself a prize. He works hard volunteering for Special Olympics. She crossed the line again.
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in response to croughton
And Cindy Wilson isn't wasting money on these frivolous lawsuits?????
Cindy can do no wrong. Even when she does, as in this case, she won't admit it or apologize for it. I hope the Judge sees merit in the case.
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