As Loudon County tax payers got ready to welcome in the new year of 2016, they were looking down the barrel of a lawsuit brought against them by court clerk Lisa Niles.

As Loudon County tax payers got ready to welcome in the new year of 2017, they were looking down the barrel of a lawsuit brought against them by court clerk Lisa Niles.

Anybody see a pattern here?

There's no point in going into all the details. Those of you that visit here are all too aware of what Ms. Niles has put the county and the tax payers through for the last two and a half years. But as we enter into the third new year with her lawsuit hanging over all our heads, seemed like a good time to review.

Ms. Niles was elected to office in 2002. Immediately after being re-elected in 2006, she sued the tax payers. A settlement was reached by the commission by giving her more people.

Immediately after being re-elected in 2010, she threatened to sue the tax payers. A settlement was reached by the commission by giving her more people.

Immediately after being re-elected in 2014, she threatened to sue the tax payers. This time the commission said enough. So Ms. Niles sued the tax payers again.

In September 2014, Niles files suit against the tax payers for additional personal and higher salaries at a possible cost to the tax payers of $300,000.00-$400,000.00.

• July 2015, Niles got a raise while preventing her employees from getting a raise due to the lawsuit.
• December 2015, Niles case was heard by the judge.
• January 2016, The judge ruled that Niles Could have four new employees, two more than the county already gave her.
• February 2016, Niles didn't like the judges decision and sued for more money.
• May 2016, Niles has second trial. Judge threw out the entire first ruling. 
• July 2016, Niles gets another raise while preventing her employees from getting a raise due to the lawsuit.
• August 2016, Niles sued the tax payers again.
• August 2016, Commission gave all Niles employees the raises Niles had been preventing, Niles refused to sign the appropriate documents for employees raises. Commission gave them in spite of her.
• December 2016, Judge hears third Niles case.
• January2017, Waiting on judges decision.

So, that's where we're at at this moment in time.

I hope the tax payers are paying close attention to what the servant of the public has done to them.

Oh, and I almost forgot about the night she lined her staff up at the commission meeting to tell us they back Lisa. Then come to find out, they were coerced by an internal memo.