The town meeting became very interesting

Last nights town meeting started with a lawsuit for $800,000.00. I was setting up my camera and a lady walked around handing out some xerox papers that had been stapled together. Thinking it was the meetings agenda, that I already had, I declined. She said this is a lawsuit and gave me a copy.

It seemed that at the end of last month a federal lawsuit was filed in the Federal District court middle division, Nashville division by Gloria Chellman-Shelton and Richard Shelton. "Court action #3:04-CV-0403"

The situation that brought about this suit started in 2000 over a fence built on the Shelton's neighbors property, next to 106 Vanderford Lane. This was followed by code complaints, issues with the town council, issues with the codes department, possible uninformed code changes, and complaints of being denied the right to address the city council.

In the suit the Shelton's claim the following damages.

(26)"As a result of the actions and inactions of the defendants the Plaintiff's constitutional rights have been violated and they should be compensated for such violations"
(27)"As a result of the actions and inactions of the defendants the Plaintiffs' property rights were damaged. A cloud was placed upon the title that they had to the Vanderford property and as a result they were unable to sell it. They incurred attorney fees, time, and expense in order to pursue enforcement of the ordinances cited above"
(28)"As a result of the actions and inactions of the defendants, the Plaintiffs have incurred mental and emotional distress."
(29)"The plaintiffs seek an award of their attorney fees."
(30)"The plaintiffs seek an award of punitive damages"
(31)The plaintiffs seek an award for all other damages compensatory consequential or otherwise under the law"

The plaintiff, Gloria Shelton, was on the agenda listed as "citizen comments". Before she spoke Mayor Spivey stated that because of the lawsuit that the council would not be commenting on Mrs. Shelton's statement.

Sadly I had not connected the citizen comments with the lawsuit until to late and only was able to get half of it on tape. Impassioned is the word I think summed up best the comments she made on the suit and the slights against her and her husband. She quickly gained my attention by emphasizing certain points of outrage with a thick pile of papers. Comments that were cut short when the three minute mark was announced by Michele Elliott, the town attorney.

Not sure how this lawsuit will work out. Mrs. Shelton seemed to me someone who is not going to back down from this fight. It reminds me of an old saying.

"when someone sues the government, the ones who lose are the taxpayers"