Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Tantrum or Tort?

 A Jackson pastor sued Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks and Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay for slander in Hinds County Circuit Court. Dr. Dwayne Pickett* claimed the two defendants falsely accused him of trying to bribe his way into getting the infamous garbage contract.

The complaint states Dr. Pickett and Mr. Banks have known each other for 20 years. It claims for firms submitted an RFP to fulfill the city’s need for solid waste collection and transportation. (Read that again.)

Dr. Pickett met with Mr. Banks in August about Waste Management’s alleged mistreatment of its workers. While discussing the garbage contract, the complaint alleges the councilman told Dr. Pickett he received “perks” from Waste Management. He allegedly “made it clear” that he would not pick a new company that did not provide him with similar perks.


 Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba recommended the City Council approved a contract with FCC in September. However, the City Council twice rejected the FCC contract. The Mayor declared a state of emergency so he could award a contract to National Waste United, LLC for sanitation services. Dr. Pickett and Socrates Garrett were members of the LLC. The City Council terminated the state of emergency. The two sides went to court but settled. Waste Management extended its contract for six months, placing Dr. Pickett's company out of the game.

Dr. Pickett claims the Ward 6 Councilman and City Council President Virgi Lindsay slandered Dr. Pickett so that his company could not get the contract. The pastor charges in his complaint:

30. Specifically, on or about September 17, 2021, Mr. Banks falsely and maliciously told Ms. Lindsey, and others, that Dr. Pickett offered him $50,000.00 in exchange for his affirmative vote on National Waste United's emergency contract with the City of Jackson. This statement is unequivocally false.

31. On a separate occasion, Mr. Banks told other individuals that Dr. Pickett offered him $20,000.00 in exchange for his support of National Waste United's emergency contract. Again, this statement is unequivocally  false.

32. The motive and purpose behind Mr. Banks' false statements was to tum fellow councilmembers against the idea of approving a new solid waste vendor that was unwilling to provide perks similar

to those that he had received from the current vendor.

33. After telling Ms. Lindsey the false statements, she perpetuated the slander by telling the Mayor that Dr. Pickett offered Mr. Banks money in exchange for his support.

34. Likewise, Mr. Lindsey perpetuated the false statements to ensure that the current vendor's contract was renewed.

35. Dr. Pickett confronted Mr. Banks regarding his false statements, and Mr. Banks admitted that he

made said false statements against Dr. Pickett.

36. As explained herein, Defendants have maliciously and intentionally defamed Dr. Pickett causing irreparable harm to Dr. Pickett's reputation as a pastor and local leader within the community.

 The would-be garbage collector claims he suffered much mental anguish and suffering because of the slander. 

The complaint charges the defendants with slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence. The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney TreMarcus Rosemon represents Dr. Pickett. The case is assigned to Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green.

Kingfish note: Apparently T-Marc needs to learn how to spell. He states Virgi Lindsay’s name as “Vergi Lindsey” throughout the complaint. The complaint also states each proposer submitted an RFP.

 * No relation to Stephen Pickett.


20 comments:

Anonymous said...

When the average IQ of the city is barely higher than room temperature on a brisk fall morning, you can expect numerous spelling and grammar mistakes.

Anonymous said...

In a functioning city, a pastor suing city council members for defamation because they accused him of offering them bribes, would live a long life in the news cycle and likely lead to some kind of reform. Because Jackson is irreparably broken, this will barely make a ripple.

Hookah said...

frivolous

Anonymous said...

It's kinda crazy. Pickett says Banks told him that he needed "perks" to get his vote. Then he says Banks claims he was offered "perks" ($30,000-$50,000) by Pickett but Banks torpedoed the deal for some malicious reason. Was $30,000 or $50,000 too little? So was Banks lying about the Waste Management "perks" in the first place? Both these guys are "pastors" so watch out.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps someone was wearing a wire.

Anonymous said...

I willing to bet this "pastor" has one of those (clergy) signs on his vehicle that he believes gives him permission to park anywhere he wishes.

Anonymous said...

The very idea a preacher suddenly gets in the trash business should tell you all you need to know about the financial affairs of this once great city. They have ruined it.

map maker said...

How many normal decent people are left in Jackson ; a few hundred?

Anonymous said...

All city government is corrupt…..watch shad indict and see more.

That’s flowood to Madison to all of them….

The “workshops” they have are Bribe sessions

Sad

Anonymous said...

The super bowl of success is waiting on Shad.

All he has to do is go nuclear on Jackson and Hinds County government.

It will become a national spectacle and cement his place as a badass.

Anonymous said...


Shakedown, play the race card, somebody will be paid

Anonymous said...

*scrolls to bottom of complaint

"Rosemon Law Firm"

*laughs and closes window, not reading a word of the complaint

Krusatyr said...


Maybe up his game to Bishop Pickett, Doctor of Garbage, Accessory to Garret Enterprises.

Anonymous said...

I was just talking about some of these crooked Rev, Dr, Pastors yesterday! What happened to forgiveness! Move on Pastor, put this time helping into your Community, not your finances or your hurt feelings. Do I smell smoke, Yes!

Where there’s money, a Pastor is not far away. Just saying!

Anonymous said...

If I said something to hurt your feelings and/or lied on you, then you sue me for slander, then half the Church will be filling Law Suits against each other!

How Childish. Oh I forgot, it’s all about that almighty $$$$. What about men of God coming together and just talk about this, Pastor that’s what you told me! (Example) you didn’t really tell me that, just making a point!

So you different, just saying. Do as I say not as I do! What a fool was I.

Anonymous said...

Credible to those of us whose memories are good three decades ago.

Cha Ching, Sez the Pastor said...

He forgot the "...turn the other cheek..," and "...forgive our trespassers..." because the smell of money is driving his bus.

Anonymous said...

Why is a local pastor involved in the city garbage contract? This just screams corruption & bribery. Nothing will happen and business as usual in the Jacktown hustle.

Anonymous said...

Nothing illegal or wrong here. Move on folks.

Anonymous said...

Lock both sides in the back of a U-Haul truck with about 50 rattlesnakes after giving one side an empty shotgun and the other side a case of shells. The very next filings will either be a notice of settlement and motion to dismiss or suggestions of death, but either way, it'll be over.



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