By Stan Welch
The Anderson County Council concluded their budget preparations in a special called meeting Tuesday night and will reportedly finalize that budget with third reading approval at another special called meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 26. Following more than two hours of haggling and pencil sharpening, the council went into executive session to receive legal advice on two lawsuits that have been pending for almost five years now.
The two lawsuits, both brought by Easley attorney Candy Kern Fuller on behalf of two selected clients, Erick Bradshaw and Patricia Jones. They lawsuits were filed before the county began legal efforts to recoup the severance package former County Administrator Joey Preston received.
Bradshaw was also party to another lawsuit during that same period, while Jones appeared essentially out of nowhere several months later, to file one of several other lawsuits.
The County’s legal defense against those suits, as well as others filed by Kern Fuller on behalf of a variety of clients, contributed to the significant legal expenses incurred by the County as a result of the 2008 lame duck County council’s decision to award Preston a $1.4 million severance package six weeks before his contract would have expired.
Council approved settlements in both cases Tuesday night. Each case was settled for $2500 apiece.
