Settlement reached in bonding agency’s suit against sheriff

Posted by

in Top Stories

Thursday, February 28. 2013

Comments (46)

A settlement agreement of $20,000 has been reached in a suit filed by a local bonding company against Madison County Sheriff Kip Thomas.

James H. Owens of Double “O” Bonding Co. filed suit in February 2012 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleging that Thomas violated his First, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment Rights.
Owens received a letter from Thomas on Jan. 26 of last year informing him that he was no longer approved as a bonding agency for the Madison County Jail.

“This letter is to inform you that as of this date Double ‘O’ Bonding is no longer on the bonding list for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office,” Thomas wrote to Owens. “You are on my list of bonding companies and are supporting a candidate running for my office. This behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by me or any other sheriff for that fact. Good luck with your business.”

A judge ruled last spring that Double “O” Bonding had to be reinstated as a bonding agency for the sheriff’s office.

Owens continued with his suit against the sheriff. And the case came to a close with a settlement agreement this past week.

“….Thomas and Madison County and their liability insurance carrier agree to pay $20,000 to plaintiffs subject to the terms provided herein,” read the settlement agreement, which was obtained through an Open Records Request filed by The Madison County Journal with the county commissioners’ office.

The settlement did not include the cost of Owens’ attorney’s fees.

The agreement also states that there is no admission of liability or fault by Thomas.

“This is a compromise settlement of a disputed claim and the payment is not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of Thomas, which expressly denies any liability,” the settlement agreement read. “This payment and compromise settlement is made to end the cost, burden and uncertainty of further litigation and to allow the released parties to buy their peace as it relates to Plaintiffs.”

Madison County government attorney Mike Pruett said after the litigation was filed that the county’s insurer covers the cost of the suit, with the county responsible for meeting a $10,000 deductible.

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 kin on 02/28/13 at 04:17 AM [Reply]

Thanks for your lack of maturity, Kip. As a taxpayer, I don't appreciate this. Lack of maturity and knowledge===get some of both.

#1.1 Wanda on 03/01/13 at 04:58 PM [Reply]

Kip needs to pay this outta his own pocket! Ripping us off...grrrrr!

#1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/04/13 at 05:48 PM [Reply]

Wanda- SO you think Kip should pay for this out of his pocket and be fired WHY? When Me and a bunch of other taxpayers thought the BOC should pay for the Sam Bruce lawsuit out of their pockets AND be FIRED WERE THEY? NO yall were singing their praises saying they were fighting for the people of Madison County? BUT they don't care about you. me , or ANYONE else in this county? To them it was personal BECAUSE Hoss wouldn't kiss their butts and he wouldn't give in to their demands? Has the Bridge been completed YET? Have they even started on it yet? BUT Y'ALL are SO worried about the $20,000. Kip cost yall and to me it is just a drop in the bucket compared to the money the BOC has cost us?

#2 ken on 02/28/13 at 07:10 AM [Reply]

It is just sad we don't have a very qualified sheriff. He is not thinking before he opens his mouth.and now it is costing us taxpayers, money.

#3 shocked on 02/28/13 at 07:35 AM [Reply]

and the person caught standing over the dead body with asmoking gun says he is also not guilty. did you write the letter or not kip?

#4 Virginia Moss on 02/28/13 at 01:10 PM [Reply]

Remember, folks, you had an excellent choice in Brennan Baird, a true professional law enforcement officer. Why did you not even consider his candidacy? If we are lucky, we may have the chance to consider him again in a few years. Please do so.

#4.1 accpd used to be on 03/01/13 at 06:27 PM [Reply]

Virginia, you keep bringing this up but it seems that you are the misinformed voter. Nothing he has done qualifies him to be a sheriff. Bringing in the "merit syatem" does not work in a sheriff's office. Working "traffic" sure as heck don't qualify him to be a sheriff. If he is so great why is he still an SPO after all these years? Answer me that!!! Grow up your man lost and ruined any chance he had at running again when he took the deal from the Lowe people.

#4.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/03/13 at 06:21 AM [Reply]

acpd used to be- I agree BUT some of these people AIN'T going to admit Kip won AND their man lost? They won't admit anything Lowe did was wrong BUT he MUST HAVE rubbed quite a few people the wrong way BECAUSE HE LOST TO KIP. AND all they said on here a year before the election was how we needed a change in the sheriffs Dept. Well Kip was that change and more people thought that than not SO HE WAS ELECTED SHERIFF.

#4.2 Ken on 03/04/13 at 02:00 PM [Reply]

Hey they just don't make them like Sheriff Jack Darrell Fortson any more!!

#4.2.1 Anon on 03/04/13 at 07:20 PM [Reply]

You have got to be kidding !
He was a jerk too !

#4.2.1.1 Ken on 03/14/13 at 11:36 AM [Reply]

I see that you certainly don't know Sheriff Jack Darrell Fortson to make a statement like that!!

#5 sovrncitzn on 02/28/13 at 02:47 PM [Reply]

This kind of abuse of power and these are the people that want drones. I can see drones being used to spy on political foes. If he would violate the First, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment for personal gain what about the first or second.

#6 Ole Jake on 02/28/13 at 06:06 PM [Reply]

Childish Kippy, childish. I see why the people in Oconee County were wanting you gone. Now you cost the county 20 K. Good move - NOT!!!

#6.1 Resident Redneck on 03/01/13 at 09:58 AM [Reply]

Ole Jake- You say Kip cost the county 20K? The counties Lawyers told the county that it would be cheaper to pay 20K than go to court? AND If you want to blame someone for costing YOU 20K? Blame Mike Pruett he is the attorney who agreed to this?
And this proves Mr. Owens can be bought? People think his bonding company makes him so much money? Business must really be down because his law suits make him more than bonding does? Look at this IF YOU file 5 law suits per year AND settle all 5 for 20K each You just made 100K and all you had to do was pay a lawyer a couple thousand dollars? BUT the bonding company is a great front for his real business(filing lawsuits) ANY government is going to try and settle ANY lawsuit AND if Mr. Owens had such a good case AND his rights had been violated he would have held out to go to court? I believe he knew if they had went to court the letter would have been proven to be a fake and he wouldn't have got nothing OR maybe even had to pay something? He accepted the offer to fast for me to believe he was telling the truth? The county could probably have offered him less money and settled it?

#7 Someone who knows on 02/28/13 at 06:07 PM [Reply]

Here is an idea. Look up double "o" and see how many other people he has sued and got a settlement out of??? He has basically made a living out of it!! I don't blame the sheriff for kicking him off the list, he should have. I blame the system!!!

#7.1 sovrncitzn on 03/01/13 at 09:22 AM [Reply]

Maybe all of these departments and sheriffs office's are corrupt. If he won the suit's he must have had a legitimate case.

#7.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/01/13 at 09:09 PM [Reply]

sovrncitzn- READ This real slow He was A W A R D E D $20,000. It NEVER WENT TO TRIAL so HE DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING it was given to him like welfare and that don't mean he had a good case that just means the county DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO COURT BECAUSE if they had went to court and by some chance Mr. Owens had won IT WOULD HAVE COST THE COUNTY MORE THAN $20,000. Y'all are SO worried about the taxpayers money, they are just trying to save you some money?

#7.2 Resident Redneck on 03/01/13 at 09:27 AM [Reply]

Someone who knows- That's right AND People think that because he was awarded $20,000. he won? Some of these people think Kip cost the taxpayers alot of money? $20.000. is just a drop in the bucket if this had gone to trial AND further more the story didn't say that KIP did it OR didn't do it?
SOME OF YOU PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN ALL you have to have to file a law suit IS MONEY? It don't have to be true it don't even have to make sense if you have the money? AND has Kip said YES he wrote the letter? You people are making Mr. Owens look like the Pope and Kip look like a third class citizen? UNTIL Kip says HE wrote the letter I am going to believe Mr. Owens paid someone to write the letter and with him owning a bonding company you know he knows more than a few crooks.

#7.2.1 Anonymous on 03/02/13 at 02:07 AM [Reply]

Kip admitted he wrote the letter. Case over. Kip should resign. Disgraceful.

#7.2.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/03/13 at 05:57 AM [Reply]

Anonymous- AND I'm sure Clayton Lowe Never did anything like this that pissed some of you off? AND if he had been re-elected I'm sure he would have been the perfect "SAINT"? Some of you think Clayton Lowe can walk on water? I know Kip has his faults like EVERYONE does AND YES even Clayton Lowe has his faults? Even if we had elected a sheriff from outside of the state even he would have faults? BUT the voting public here in Madison County thought Kip was the better choice for sheriff SO WE elected him and not Clayton Lowe. "TO BAD SO SAD CRY ME A HANDFUL" AND even though some of you didn't vote for and can't stand Kip IF YOU CALL THE SHERIFF'S Dept. HE(Kip) will send an officer to your location to help you. How about this for those of you who can't stand Kip NEVER call 911 and you can ALWAYS be a victim?

#7.2.1.2 Anonymous #2 on 03/03/13 at 10:04 AM [Reply]

I agree with you 200 percent, Kip needs to go home now!

#8 Resident Redneck on 02/28/13 at 08:10 PM [Reply]

You people are crying because your choice for sheriff LOST. If Clayton Lowe had done the same thing Y'ALL would still be singing his praises? Y'all would have been saying GET RID OF DOUBLE O BONDING they can't be trusted? BUT Owens thought he had a plan by supporting another candidate like so many of yall Owens thought Kip would lose and then he(Owens) could go to the new sheriff and say I supported you to maybe get some "BROWNIE POINTS".
AND while I may HAVE to reinstate Double O bonding as a Bonding agency for the sheriffs office they would be on the list BUT they WOULD BE LAST ON THAT LIST.
Hey Mr. Owens you violated MY 98th Amendment right AND that is A Grown man don't stand up and whine and cry about someone NOT giving you a hand out like a little girl who lost her Dolly.

#9 MCParent on 02/28/13 at 09:34 PM [Reply]

While the sheriff has a right to approve or disapprove of the bonding companies, he should not have put the fact that it was over who the company supported in the letter. Had he not, there would have been no issue. Why not complain about the guy suing over it, even though he was reinstated? I'm sure the incident didn't cost him $20,000 out of pocket, and everyone knows when you sue a county employee, it's the taxpayers that end up footing the bill. Owens made his point by filing the suit, but then he made sure to make a nice profit on the deal off of our backs. Thomas isn't the first, and certainly won't be the last to cost us for something like this.

#9.1 Anonymous on 03/01/13 at 02:16 PM [Reply]

No im sure it didnt cost him 20,000 out of his pocket, it came out of ours. We are already taxed to death and to spend it on such BS, is a disgrace. I think Kip should have to pay the $ out of his pocket. (and im not saying Double O deserves it, everyone knows they didnt loose that much money, but putting that in a letter with your chest stuck out was just plain stupid)!!

#10 Anonymous on 03/01/13 at 01:40 AM [Reply]

Kip Thomas just cost us taxpayers more money with his immature mouth than all previous sheriff's combined! $20,000!!!...all because of Kip's mouth and infantile behavior issues. When will it end?!?

#11 Ole Jake on 03/01/13 at 08:14 PM [Reply]

I don't care who is on or off the list. This immature and childish sheriff that was elected here can do what he likes. HE should have to pay for his own mistakes or poor judgement or just being a jerk. HE did it, not the people of Madison County. You want to send him a few bucks to help out, suit your self and write the check. Kippy screwed up, and admitted it when the letter was written. Pay up and leave the tax dollars alone.

#12 Grow up people, you have no clue. on 03/02/13 at 09:14 PM [Reply]

First I think it's wrong that the judge ordered this person to be reinstated as the Madison County bonding office. What right does the judge have to do that? Our sherrif can contract with whomever he wants to, that's what free trade is about.

Second, Owens knew he would win a settlement, that's why he filed suit. He has no problem taking your money, does he? You all should be angry at him for filing the suit, wasting everyone's time, and stealing your money out of your pocket. Kip didn't take your money, Owens did.

Third, you're a bunch of cry babies. Kip is a good sherriff, a good man. Mr. Lowe is the back-room dealing, good ol' boy sherriff and I thank Gid he didn't win. Wasn't it interesting that he changed parties thinking he could beat Kip if he ran as a Republican instead if a Domocrat. He actually may have won if he'd run as his true self. Instead, he divided this county, wasted a lot of money with a run-off, and was a sore loser as were his supporters. A leopard can't change his spots.

Quit your griping! Blame Mr. Owens, stop dragging up Lowe, support your sherriff. Bunch of cry babies!

#12.1 Resident Redneck on 03/04/13 at 09:35 PM [Reply]

Grow up people- AMEN that's just what I have said all along. AND what if Mr. Owens had supported some other choice for sheriff while Lowe was the current sheriff? Lowe would have done the same thing Sheriff Thomas did BUT probably not as nice as Kip did it? I don't think Mr.Owens cared if he won the lawsuit or not? All he wanted to do was run Kip's name in the ground AND if it had worked and Lowe had won Mr. Owens would have been set with some more backroom dealings with Lowe. In the government all you have to do is plant a seed like Owens did and see what grows BUT it didn't grow did it Mr. Owens?
AND what you people fail to realize is Mr. Owens has gotten rich off of bailing your family out of jail AND NOW he just got a $20,000. chunk from you. SO who's the Dummy now BECAUSE you keep giving him money and BLAME it on someone else?
AND one more thing I can't figure out is if GA is a state where your employer can fire you for ANY reason wouldn't that include Mr. Owens too? You people are paying for his house and his new cars AND now yall want to buy him a boat too.

#12.1.1 Donna on 03/06/13 at 12:08 AM [Reply]

Kip demonstrated he was unfit to hold the office of Sheriff by writing such an asinine, childish, and as we see, now $20,000 letter. Quite expensive! Any moron in any office, public or otherwise, knows better than to write a letter like that. Kip Thomas continues to embarrass himself, and the sheriff's office, and this county.

#12.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/08/13 at 11:39 AM [Reply]

Donna- SO you think the letter Kip wrote to Mr. Owens was how did you put it asinine and childish? What I think is childish is Mr. Owens just because Kip took him off the bonding list and cost him a little bit of change he wants to sue? THAT IS CHILDISH. AND how about the way the Mayor of Danielsville fires people BY TEXT MESSAGE? BUT most of you thought that was fine? AND with the current computer Technology that was the way things were done today? It is childish BECAUSE YOU don't have to look the man in the eye when you take his livelyhood away? I personally think he couldn't look the men in the eyes because he knew it was wrong AND if you are going to run for Mayor of ANY town YOU SHOULD be man enough to conduct business IN PERSON.

#13 Resident Redneck on 03/03/13 at 06:11 AM [Reply]

Ole Jake- Slow down "POPS" you going to have a Heart Attack? BUT I guess you would blame that on Kip too? I can't figure out WHY some of you are so bent out of shape and so upset about what Kip did BUT when the BOC was fighting over Sam Bruce Rd. and all the other "CRAP" they have done AND YALL have always been behind them AND may I add that they(the BOC) have wasted ALOT MORE than $20,000. of the taxpayers money AND YALL want to keep them in office? AND futher more Mr. Owens didn't WIN $20,000. it was offered to him by the Madison County Attorney and he took it SO maybe the Attorney needs to resign?

#14 You might be from MC if... on 03/05/13 at 05:43 PM [Reply]

I voted for Thomas instead of Lowe, because i felt he was the lesser of the two evils. However, I am very disappointed in this whole article. I think the real issue here is the immaturity that Kip portrayed in the letter (should the article be truthful in it's content). If he wanted to take out Double "O" bonding so be it...that's his choice, however lets grow up and not put "cause you are supporting my opponant"...that is the most childish thing I have ever heard. And Yes i am pretty upset that $20,000 of the money I help pay into this county went for this CHILDISH act on all parties involved. I don't care who is right and who is wrong...$20,000 of our money should have NEVER gone towards this BS.

#14.1 Resident Redneck on 03/07/13 at 09:05 PM [Reply]

You might be from MC if- All I hear is you people crying about the $20,000. spent on this CHILDISH "CRAP" and while I don't think Mr. Owens should have got a dime NONE OF YOU were upset over the money the BOC wasted on the Sam Bruce LAWSUIT because THE boc SAID THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR each citizen in Madison Co. MAYBE Kip should have said he was doing it for the citizens? Then would yall still be crying?

#14.1.1 Ms.K on 03/08/13 at 10:52 PM [Reply]

Yes, Mr. Thomas should have said it was for the good of the county and explained how so, but he didn't, did he? Instead he put in writing his own personal irritation that cost us all $20,000. Simply immaturity.

#14.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/11/13 at 11:26 AM [Reply]

Ms.K- You said "Yes Mr. Thomas should have said it was for the good of the county and explained how so" BUT I go back to something I said before. WOULD IT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE? IF Mr. Thomas had done this AND IT WAS good for the county? Would you and all the other whiners been willing to give Mr. Owens MORE MONEY? Like the amount YOUR BOC stole from each and every taxpayer in this county to fight for Sam Bruce Rd? That was PERSONAL and I don't care how they word it OR what they say? It was personal between the BOC and Cartwright it didn't have nothing to do with the road or a bridge? I have been down that road before the bridge washed out BUT when the Rd. got in bad shape I FOUND ANOTHER WAY AROUND THAT ROAD?
I think MOST of you are just pissing in your own cereal? The BOC can take Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from you AND YOU are happy to give it BUT Mr. Thomas can take pocket change from you and you want to hang him? That's like someone asking you to loan them $1,000. and you know they will never pay you back BUT you give it to them AND another friend ask you for 50 cents to buy a drink AND YOU constantly hound and pester the friend who you gave the 50 cents to to pay you back and you quit hanging around with them because they haven't paid you back BUT the friend who borrowed the $1,000. you call your best friend and you hang out with them every day?
If you want to cry and whine about someone costing you money START with the people who have cost you the most FIRST. AND Mr. Owens DIDN'T win the $20,000. IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM BY YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY? Sort of like Welfare( a hand out) Mr. Owens is getting money FOR DOING NOTHING? Now that's wrong.

#15 Gone for Good on 03/06/13 at 10:41 AM [Reply]

It seems to me that more effort needs to be put towards ending drug use in Madison County. From first hand experience Kip Thomas and his bunch of so called officers are not worried about the rampant use of Meth!!!! Sad!!!

#16 tn on 03/09/13 at 04:43 AM [Reply]

Get rid of the DARE program. Statistics show it does not work and it is a waste of money. It just sounds good.

#16.1 Virginia Moss on 03/11/13 at 01:27 PM [Reply]

What statistics? Your statement tells us nothing and I would like to know if this is true. On what are you basing your opinion? Help us out here.

#16.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/11/13 at 08:57 PM [Reply]

WELL Virginia- Allow me to comment on the DARE program? It may work for a few BUT IT WON'T SAVE EVERY KID THAT GOES THROUGH THE PROGRAM. I myself went through the DARE program with alot of other people did AND we passed with flying colors AND Today as I think back some are dead because of wrecks from drinking and driving, some over dosed and died from drugs, Some are strung out on drugs today, I myself got so hooked on drugs and was going down hill that I had a car wreck that put me in a coma for 8 weeks and they removed a third of my brain BUT I lived and stayed in the hospital for almost 9 months? I was in a wheel chair for almost 2 years UNTIL I learned to walk again. That's just half the class that went through the program when I did that are dead and most of the other half are strung out today or are in prison because of drugs. NO class or program is going to keep kids from doing drugs IF THEY WANT TO DO THEM. I went through programs and listen to speeches from former addicts? IT DIDN'T WORK. EXPERIENCE is the BEST TEACHER? From my past experience I DON'T want to do drugs anymore? I don't even like to take anything for a headache? I just deal with it until it passes.

#16.2 ANON on 03/11/13 at 05:10 PM [Reply]

Really ? Where did you get this kind of info from ? I would hope you can back this up before you make this kind of statement !

#17 Anonymous on 03/11/13 at 07:04 PM [Reply]

If you paid more attention to what is going on and less time complaining about it, you would know that DARE is no longer being utilized in Madison County. The CHAMPS program replaced it shortly after Sheriff Thomas took office. Just one of the many things he has done since taking office. Quit complaining and get involved in what is going on in the county!!!

#17.1 Resident Redneck on 03/14/13 at 08:50 PM [Reply]

Anonymous- I don't CARE if you have the DARE program, the CHAMPS program, OR the KAD(kids against Drugs) program NOTHING is going to work IF THE KIDS WANT TO DO DRUGS? Doing drugs is a personal problem that every teen has to go through and every situation is different just like EVERY TEENAGER IS DIFFERENT? AND when did this story change to be about the DARE, CHAMPS, OR any other program? I thought it was about the Madison Co. Attorney handing Mr. Owens $20,000. like Welfare?
BUT I hear YOU people saying all the time how you are tired of handing out money to the sorry low lives on Welfare who can work BUT won't? AND most of you want to do away with Welfare and Food stamps? AND with welfare and food stamps you blame the people that get them BUT with this you BLAME sheriff Thomas? He didn't get the money OR give it to Mr. Owens? That was Mr. Owens who got the money AND YOUR county Attorney who gave him the money BUT NONE OF YOU WANT TO BLAME THEM. If it had went to court Mr. Owens would have probably dropped the law suit BUT he knew all he had to do was file it and the Madison Co. Attorney would trip over himself to settle it without going to trial. This is how MOST Governments work? It's easier to pay than have a lenghtly court battle AND it saved you money because would you rather pay $20,000. OR go to court and by some slim chance lose and have to pay $250,000.?

#17.1.1 puttingitsimple on 03/19/13 at 07:25 AM [Reply]

IF kip hadn't wrote the letter in the first place none of this would have happened and we would still have our $20,000.00

#17.1.1.1 Resident Redneck on 03/19/13 at 01:21 PM [Reply]

puttingitsimple- I ain't saying Kip didn't write the letter. BUT what I am saying is what he did is NO MORE childish than what the BOC did about Sam Bruce Rd. If that story hadn't come to the public's attention the BOC would have probably gave the road to Cartwright BUT once the public got wind of the goings on about Sam Bruce Rd. the BOC didn't want to look like they gave in AND it wasn't their money? It don't matter if it would have cost 10 Million Dollars WE the taxpayers would be paying it for years to come. Now if Cartwright had offered to buy the road this would have NEVER went to court? What Kip cost the county AS YOU PEOPLE SAY is just a drop in the bucket compared to what the BOC and others have cost the county BUT yall want to hang the sheriff for costing you pocket change? AND the whole reason Mr. Owens filed this case was to start trouble for Kip right before the election? Mr. Owens is a Bail Bondsman SO I'm sure he has had ALOT nastier things said to him before?

#18 what? on 03/15/13 at 08:20 PM [Reply]

Resident Redneck = Kip Thomas. Only explanation for you blindly defending someone who cost the county money with a stupid act.Kip get off here and get to work!!!

#18.1 Resident Redneck on 03/15/13 at 10:41 PM [Reply]

What?- This ain't Kip Thomas. AND you say it is stupid to defend and support someone who cost the county money? THEN WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE STILL SUPPORTING THE BOC and why are they still in office? They have cost you a lot more than Kip has? Look at the Sam Bruce law suit what did that cost? I figured out you peoples problem with all of this? It's not the amount of money IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS KIP that cost you? You have a problem with Kip.

Add Comment

Name
Email
Homepage
In reply to
Comment: E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.

Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:
Phone*

What is one plus four?
: Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry
: Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

Settlement reached in bonding agency’s suit against sheriff

MadisonJournalTODAY

Settlement reached in bonding agency’s suit against sheriff

Recent Stories

Recent Comments

Sister Sites

Archives

Community

Keyword Tags