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September 2007

Sunshine Lawsuit Trial: Today's Notes

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 25, 2007 - 11:14pm

His Mother's Son

Josh Jordan may be a County Commissioner, but he's still Diane Jordan's son. During breaks on the stand today, Ms. Jordan - seated in the back of the courtroom - and looked directly into her son's eyes and repeated the word, respect, over and over again.

Josh Jordan got the message.

Smith Says He's OK with his Testimony

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 25, 2007 - 2:12am

I ran into Commissioner Larry Smith this evening at the City County Building. He was leaving a County Commission meeting.

Tennessee This Week

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 22, 2007 - 12:24am

Coming up this Sunday on Tennessee This Week:

A conversation with Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and his opponent in Tuesday's City primary, Isa Infante.

Haslam explains his personal stake in the Downtown Regal Theater deal and why it's not a conflict of interest.

Heard at Sunshine Lawsuit Trial

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 20, 2007 - 11:30pm

- Commissioner Greg Lambert, given a pass today by Chancellor Fansler for his failure to produce his cell phone records to plaintiffs attorneys, was talking to the media again. "I haven't been able to talk to you for three days and it almost drove me crazy," he said.

A Knox County Commissioner upon witnessing the media gathering around fellow Commissioner Lambert and hearing Lambert's statement said: "Bless his heart, he can't help himself."

- Sheriff J.J. Jones wandered up to the first floor today in his Sheriff's uniform. We asked him why the uniform?

Notes from the Sunshine Trial

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 19, 2007 - 11:36pm

- News Sentinel Reporter Scott Barker raised eyebrows and more than a few chuckles when he described a scene outside the Main Assembly room during a recess of the January 31 Special Called Commission meeting.

Barker recounted observing an effort to swear-in Richard Cate to fill 4th District Commissioner John Schmid's seat. (our camera was also there)

When Schmid found out, he confronted the group which included Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert and demanded they stop.

It's Getting Bumpy for Lumpy

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 18, 2007 - 2:14am

I wish I could take credit for the above headline, but I must admit I borrowed it from Knoxville attorney Greg Isaacs.

Knox County Commissioner Greg "Lumpy" Lambert is refusing to turn over his January 2007 phone records to attorneys representing Knoxville News Sentinel editor Jack McElroy.

McElroy accuses Lambert and the rest of Knox County Commission of violating the state's sunshine law when it appointed people to fill 12 term-limited county positions on January 31.

In the Request for Admissions, Lambert is asked if he'd "deliberated toward a decision on matters of policy or admini

No Access to Thompson

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 18, 2007 - 1:50am

Fred Thompson is running for President. Tonight, the former U.S. Senator was in Knoxville. But you won't see him on our air. Or, we were assured, anywhere else.

Most campaigns take advantage of free media. But not the Thompson campaign. This was a stealth mission. In quickly, grab the money and run. Unless you could afford to plunk down $500 or $1,000, you wouldn't even know the man was in town.

What we can't understand is why he couldn't spend a few minutes with local media?

Moore's Problems

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 15, 2007 - 1:16am

Sunshine Lawsuit

Knox County Commission Chairman Scott Moore's public persona appears to have taken a major beating this week in court.

The plaintiffs' attorneys have both focused on Moore and his actions leading to the January 31 meeting that is at the heart of the Sunshine Law trial.

The plaintiffs argue that Commissioners violated the open meetings act in appointing people to fill 12 term limited county positions.

At tonight's Bearden-Farragut football game, Moore was on the field at halftime for a check presentation.

Lambert Urged to "Lawyer Up"

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 14, 2007 - 2:01am

"Smoking Gun?"

Knoxville attorney Herb Moncier believes a letter to Chairman Scott Moore, dated January 19, and electronically signed by 14 commissioners (including Moore) is the "smoking gun" in the lawsuit that accuses Commissioners of violating the state's sunshine law in appointing 12 term limited positions on January 31.

In the first day of testimony, Moncier painted a picture of two differing opinions regarding the appointments. Playing back the January 16 intergovernmental and finance comittee meetings, he suggests one group can be heard wanting public hearings.

Schmid, Lambert Square Off

Submitted by Gene Patterson on September 7, 2007 - 9:33pm

Next week's trial pitting the Knoxville News Sentinel and County Commission against each other over the interpretation of the state's open meeting act could be a defining moment for local government and how it conducts its business.

Certainly people are passionate on both sides of the issue.