Three East Point residents: DEBORAH “DEB” A. AZIZ, JARRETT “JARR”A. BELL, and CHRISTINA “TINA” DHARMAN filed a Civil Lawsuit against me for slander and deformation of character for $300,000 each plus additional future financial harm based on “EMAILS” that I referenced in my post. The three plaintiffs were represented by Attorneys Robert Bexley and Kathryn Guzner. I was represented by Johnson & Freeman Law Firm with Attorneys Cathy R. Nash and Bethany White. Judge Myra Dixon presided over the case. I requested a jury trial.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: PLAINTIFFS and DEFENDANT
At the time of the publication of my post on my website, May 25, 2015: Deborah “Deb” Aziz was a member of the East Point Ethics Board, and an administrator of the Facebook page, “The Vent”. Christina “Tina” Dharman was Chairperson of East Point Building and Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) and an administrator of the Facebook page, “THE COMMUNITY OF EAST POINT”. Jarret “Jarr” Bell was a new resident to the City and by his court testimony “a master IT administrator”. I was no longer an elected official and my “IT knowledge” is not worthy of discussion. I will allow the following “EMAILS” and my “POST” provided to the Court to speak for themselves.
Please CLICK HERE: Vent 1; CLICK HERE: Vent 2
CLICK HERE: Vent 3
CLICK HERE: My Response
After “My Response” was posted on my website, the Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit. On March 8, 2019, the Jury heard the case. All three Plaintiffs testified and were cross-examined by my Attorneys. After the Plaintiffs’ Attorneys rested their case, my Attorneys addressed the Court stating that the Plaintiffs had failed to prove their case and declined to provide a rebuttal and asked the Court for final judgement. The Judge instructed the Jury on what they were required to deliberate and stated that they could find in favor of one, two, or all three Plaintiffs or me, the Defendant. The Jury deliberated for less than twenty minutes. CLICK HERE: Aziz.Bell.Dharman v Pittman (Judgment) (5)
I am constantly amazed by certain East Point residents who go to the microphone during “Public Comments” at Council Meetings and denounce anyone who speaks out about negative things that need to be addressed by Mayor and Council as people who are tearing down the City and promoting a negative image of the City; and then go home and click into to their favorite “private chat rooms” and make a mockery of their “Public Comments”.
NOTE: Ms. Dharman is still Chairperson of BIDA. Ms. Aziz was appointed to the East Point Housing Board. Mr. Bell was appointed to Planning & Zoning Board. Mayor and Council Members rewarded them. They were not hurt at all by the post on my website.
