Sometimes,
it's just necessary to point out things said with the
facts.
Most
recently, Lenoir City Mayor, Tony Aikens, one time
business partner and go to attorney, T Scott Jones,
stated of the McNabb v Harrison residency case:
(T Scott) Jones said. “There
was never a doubt in our
mind that it complied with
all aspects of both the
Tennessee State Constitution
as well as the applicable
electoral law. We’re only
sorry that the citizens of
Lenoir City are left to pay
the tab for another
individual’s failure to
acknowledge defeat.”
Then mayor Aikens has been quoted in the News Herald and
has stated at several meetings about the Loudon County v
Lenoir City annexation lawsuit:
“What are we fighting about
when the property owners
have agreed to the 2020
standards?” Aikens said.
“Just because it’s inside
the city?”
He (Aikens) said the lawsuit
is causing both governments
to spend money that could
have gone elsewhere.
“It’s just like I said from
the start, and I tried to
prevent it, I did everything
in my power to try and
persuade county commission
not file litigation against
Lenoir City,” Aikens said.
“When governments start
suing governments, there’s
only one loser and that’s
the taxpayers.” News
Herald 8/2/23
I
have previously reported how much the
county has spent
thus far in the annexation lawsuit, so I was curious how
much the city had spent on the annexation lawsuit and
the Harrison residency case, So I asked by means of a
public records request.
Friday, November 10,
2023 10:28 PM
Amber,
Please see attachment
for records request.
Van
_____________________________________________________
Please
provide;
1.
All legal
fees and
hours
submitted by
all
attorneys
involved in
the McNabb v
Harrison
residency
lawsuits.
2.
All legal
fees and
hours
submitted by
all
attorneys
involved in
the Loudon
County v
Lenoir City
annexation
lawsuit.
No details
or
narratives
needed, just
total hours
and fees
paid/billed/requested
______________________________________________________
Van,
Good
morning. I
am receipt
of your
request. However, I
have nothing
to give to
you to
fulfill this
request
because no
hours or
fees have
been billed
or paid.
Please
consider
this my
official
response to
your
request.
Have a
wonderful
day!
Thank you,
Amber
Scott
Kelso
______________________________________________________
Amber,
Clarification,
no hours
billed and
no money
paid to T
Scott Jones
or any other
lawyer for
either the
Loudon
County v
Lenoir City
annexation
lawsuit nor
the McNabb v
Harrison
lawsuit?
Has Jones or
any other
lawyer just
not filed
any bills as
of yet or is
Jones or any
other lawyer
just
handling the
cases pro
bono?
Van
_______________________________________________________
Van,
To my knowledge,
they are not
handling it pro
bono, and we have
not received any
bills at this time.
As you know, the
City Attorney works
on salary so he does
not bill extra for
services.
Thank you,
Amber Scott
Kelso
_____________________________________________________
Monday, November
13
Van,
As an addition
to my email
response below a
few minute ago,
please keep in
mind that the
McNabb v.
Harrison case is
not yet
officially over
since former
Judge McNabb has
sixty (60) from
the date of the
order to file an
appeal to the
Supreme Court of
Tennessee.
Thanks you,
Amber Scott
Kelso
______________________________________________________
The annexation lawsuit began back in February of
this year. The McNabb v Harrison suit began back
in late 2022. So, according to the city manager,
Amber Scott Kelso, T Scott Jones has not billed Lenoir
City for a penny on either of the lawsuits.
Either the city will eventually get a huge bill
from T Scott or he's doing his buddy Aikens a
big favor.
Ever heard
of a lawyer that didn't send a bill?
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