“Please be advised that the above-captioned law firm have been retained to represent the interest of Tom Peeler relative to defamatory statements that have been made either by you or attributed to you concerning allegations that are either speculative or unsubstantiated relative to his time as Mayor of Greenback,” the letters received by residents Wendy Tittsworth and Lisa Russell on Wednesday read. “Please be advised that if this type of conduct continues by you and you continue to make defamatory statements which you cannot substantiate with direct proof, that we will take action under the libel and slander laws to sue you civilly for defamation relative to these actions.

“I trust this admonition is clear as my client is no longer the Mayor Greenback and being vilified for your own personal pleasure is not going to be on his continued menu of preferred activities,” lawyer T. Scott Jones’ letter continued. “Trust me, I suggest you familiar yourself with the laws regarding defamation before you continue to make statements of which you do not have personal knowledge or direct fact proof in your hands.”
 

Jones, of Banks and Jones Attorneys at Law in Knoxville, said the letters were intended to warn about potential future defamation lawsuits from the former mayor.
 

“Yeah they were basically to advise the folks if they continue to post disparaging comments that are defamatory in nature, we are going to take legal action against them,” Jones told The Daily Times. “While certainly you have the First Amendment right to express yourself, you don’t have the right to defame somebody without specific knowledge associated with it.”
 

When asked multiple times to provide examples of the allegedly defamatory claims made by the accused, Jones was unable to do so.
 

“You’re asking me about specific ones? I went back and it was clear to me that it was effectively what would amount to muckraking,” Jones said. “They were generalized defamatory statements, with nothing to back it up. ... If a statement is true, it’s not defamation by definition ... but if it’s not true and you make that statement, then it meets basically the quintessential definition of muckraking. And you know we don’t participate in that in a civilized society.”
 

Jones described the comments made by the nine residents on social media as lacking substance, illustrating his contention with an old fast-food commercial.
 

“It seems great to get the tar and the feathers out, and to start slinging the mud, but the reality of it is it’s like the old Wendy’s commercial. ‘Where’s the beef?’ You better be able to show there’s meat on that bun. If not, there’s a consequence for basically abusing someone,” Jones said. “In this particular case, you know, I looked at what they posted, talked to my folks and said you know, just consider that a warning shot across the bow. You know what I’m saying. If you want to play in the big boy leagues, you get bit and that’s what it is.”
 

Jones said the nine citizens had “muckraked” Peeler for “kicks and giggles,” later implying that they may not be educated enough to understand the situation.
 

“If you got facts, then talk facts, but you can’t just sit there and crucify someone. So that’s effectively what those letters were intended to do, and you know, they may not take heed. I don’t know the education levels of some of these folks,” Jones said, referencing a profane phone call his receptionist had received regarding the letters.
 

Tittsworth and Russell, the only two letter recipients The Daily Times was able to reach before press time, both vehemently deny any defamation.
 

“I certainly question how publishing public information pertaining to the City of Greenback Government could in any way or form be construed as defamation,” Tittsworth emailed The Daily Times. “All elected public officials are bound by oath to support the best interest of their constituents. They are also bound by law to follow the rules and laws that apply to the way they are to conduct city business.”
 

Tittsworth, who has been requesting records pertaining to actions and statements by Peeler since October, said she is acting out of civic duty, not malice or defamation.
 

“I have the complete and utter right, as does any United States citizen, to question, form and share opinions of, and have public knowledge of, EVERY aspect pertaining to the way ANY government in this country is run,” she wrote. “That’s the law. And in my opinion, if you don’t stand up for that right, you are part of the problem we have with transparency today. This is not defamation. This is fact. And yes, I have the paperwork to prove it.”
 

Russell also maintains that her statements about Peeler have been based in fact.
 

The Greenback community and the Loudon County community know me very well,” said Russell, a former Loudon County school board member. “There’s only one way I work. I will not put anything out there that I do not have written proof. So I’m not the least bit concerned about that letter.”
 

Russell said she initially thought the letter was fraudulent and plans to call the law office Thursday to get specifics on the accusations against her.
 

If you’re going to accuse me of something, well you tell me what I did,” Russell added. “Let’s take care of this right now.”

Peeler, who had been mayor for 44 years until he left office on Dec. 27, would qualify as a “public official” while in office and as a “public figure” since last month and would not be subject to defamation under law per New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a 1964 court case that determined that a public official cannot be libeled unless malice can be proven.