Monday, October 24, 2016

The Mayor sues Bracey for defamation

Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber responded to a sexual harassment lawsuit with both barrels blazing today.  Mayor Yarber answered  Kimberly Bracey's federal complaint and then filed a counterclaim against her for defamation.  Mrs. Bracey was Mayor Yarber's executive assistant and is married to Santore Bracey.


Mayor Yarber charged in his counterclaim:

At all times material and relevant, the Counter-Defendant made numerous false and defamatory statements concerning Counter-Plaintiff.
19. That at all times material and relevant, said statements were unprivileged and were published to third parties.
20. At all times material and relevant, said statements were made with malice, recklessness and with knowledge that said statements were false.
21. The actions of the Counter-Defendant constitute defamation.
22.  That as a direct and proximate result of said defamation, Counter-Plaintiff has been caused to suffer damages of a personal and pecuniary nature, including but not limited to out of pocket expenses, damage to reputation, attorney’s fees, and other damages to be proven at trial.
 Mayor Yarber also sued Mrs. Bracey for abuse of process and stated:

13.  That the filing of the Complaint and the filing and service of the Amended Complaint containing false allegations against the Counter-Plaintiff by the Counter-Defendant is a malicious perversion of a regularly issued civil process, for a purpose and to obtain a result not lawfully warranted or properly attainable thereby.
14.  That the actions of the Counter-Defendant were done with the intent to abuse the privileges of the legal system.

He seeks an unspecified amount of damages.  The Mayor's answer to the complaint contained the standard denials that are usually found in such responses.   However, the Mayor claimed that Mrs. Bracey "falsely" alleged in her complaint that she had a sexual relationship with the Mayor and that the Mayor had "numerous sexual relationships with other women" during his tenure as Mayor.



Mrs. Bracey sued the Mayor in August and made several salacious allegations.  The complaint mentioned strippers, fundraisers, and even body-paint.  She stated that she had an affair with the Mayor after he performed the wedding ceremony with her and her husband.  However, she claimed that she feared retaliation when she tried to end the affair.  

Attorney Nick Norris represents Kimberly Bracey while attorney Judy Barnett represents Mayor Yarber.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan, III. 


Documents posted below:
Page 1: Answer
Page 12: First amended complaint
Page 21: First complaint
Page 29: EEOC letter






16 comments:

Anonymous said...

The part I got the best laugh about was the damage to his reputation.

Jack Knife said...

We don't have to watch Soaps on TV just listen to this mess that "Phony Tony" is doing these days.

Jack Knife said...

Tony, if she is lying why would Kenny say on his radio show (1300am Sunday Morning) that the city is going to have to settle this lawsuit out of court. Is this the best you can come up with before our election next year?

Anonymous said...

Tony, fire is hot. Put it out and go on home son.

Anonymous said...

I hopeYarber isn't paying for this defense. The strategy is flawed, if not damn crazy! Baby Boy needs to stop the embarrassment and go home. If this mess continues, he will take down a lot of his cronies as well.

Anonymous said...

Resign Tony.

Anonymous said...

Judy Barnett seems like a light weight with that response. Hope the Judge uses Rule 11 against her pronto.

Asked Of Attorneys.. said...

Defamation is an interesting theory/concept/reality. What can or cannot be said regarding a public figure or celebrity? Where is the line? Or is there one when it comes to celebrity or well known players in the community, or for that matter nationally? For example, a gentleman in Madison County who regularly claims others are defaming him. These questions are asked seriously.

Anonymous said...

It has been nearly impossible for anyone to win a defamation or slander suit in this country for decades.
It's part of the reason we have such an awful political campaign.
Celebrities have had to sue in Great Britain ( Carol Burnett is an example) when they find a tabloid story particularly onerous. Of course, British tabloids have to pick it up.
Even then, they have to have and be willing to spend an enormous amount of money or else find a lawyer who is willing ( and his firm is willing) to wait for a judgement to be paid.
If your name or image has ever appeared in public media, you are seen as a " public figure" and it's not enough to prove whatever was said was a damaging lie, you have to prove malicious intent and that the person knew it was a lie.
That's nearly impossible.
It will be years before this case is settled and as is obvious in these comments, the damage is done and many of the jurors are likely to have formed an opinion.
We need to strengthened our libel, slander and defamation laws to put a damper on the outrageous propaganda in our Nation in hopes of saving our democratic republic.
I hope he's got a winnable case and not because I think he is a good mayor ( I don't) but I'd love to see precedent set and these Goebbels tactics in this country come to an end.

Anonymous said...

If the mayor spent as much time on solving infrastructure problems as he apparently does fooling around and defending it, maybe this city would be livable again.

Anonymous said...

This reads like one or two commentators posting over and over.

That said, if there's any truth to what she's alleging, he should have settled early and fast. That's survivable. Having a long, drawn out process and then losing isn't going to be good for his career.

Anonymous said...

As my grandmother would say, "this is just shameful, the mayor need to sit his ass down".

Anonymous said...

6:56...I'm 3:41. Thank you for your post.

Anonymous said...

3:41 thank you for asking and 6:56 thank you for answering. this is 10:41 signing out.

Anonymous said...

No wonder we pay these yahoos so much money, they have to lawyer up every week or two.

Shift Commander said...

10-4, 10:41. Don't forget to check the door-knob at Floyd's Barber Shop.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.