STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: WWW.MISSISSIPPIWEBSITE.COM
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: WWW.MISSISSIPPIWEBSITE.COM
By TRACY DASH
THE SUN HERALD
Monday, April 30, 2007
GULFPORT - All four Harrison County Circuit Court judges have removed themselves from hearing a civil lawsuit involving Orange Grove Utilities, Gulfport Mayor Ken Combs and The Sun Herald.
I believe their has been some talk about this utility company be overpriced and purchased by Harrison County.
If you have any information about this email me, mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
Judges Kosta Vlahos, Jerry O. Terry, Robert Walker and Stephen Simpson filed an order in Circuit Court on Monday requesting that the state Supreme Court reassign the case to a judge from another district. Vlahos has presided over the case since it was filed in 1998.
I find it very odd that any judge would request not to hear the case.
The order offers no explanation other than saying "recusal is appropriate."
"refusal is appropriate.", I feel they stated this, then they all must have gotten together and talked about the explanation.
Is that legal?
Terry said Monday afternoon that he doesn't believe he should hear the case because of his friendship with Combs. Simpson, Vlahos and Walker could not be reached for comment.
I thought a judge was suppose to be impartial when conducting over a case.
It seem too me the there four judges would have to refuse most cases if being friends with a politicians.
Kathy and Steven Day, the utility's owners, sued Combs, Gulfport Councilman Kim Savant, the newspaper and reporter Geoff Pender, charging defamation of character over an article the newspaper printed in September 1998.
I believe Mayor Ken Combs also has a pending lawsuit concerning the purchase of the Orange Grove Utility Company.
The suit accuses Combs, Savant and the newspaper of damaging the Days' reputation and causing them other injuries after the newspaper reported their political connections to former Gulfport Mayor Bob Short.
I believe this too be a true statement.
So did the Orange Grove Utility get purchased because of the former Mayor Bob Short being friends with the owners?
Tracy Dash can be reached at 896-2340 or at tadash@sunherald.com.
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY
MY OPINION