SUNFLOWER’S BOARD OF ALDERMEN SERVED 11-10-2010

THE TOWN OF SUNFLOWER BOARD OF ALDERMEN WAS SERVED WITH A LAWSUIT AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S BOARD MEETING. ATTORNEY ELLIS PITTMAN SAYS EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD WAS SERVED WITH A LAWSUIT TUESDAY. HIS CLIENT, MARKIUS HIBBLER, FILED A WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TOWN AND EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THAT HIBBLER WAS TERMINATED BECAUSE HE ARRESTED ALDERMAN PAUL J. HALEY FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED IN 2009. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN HAS 30 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE LAWSUIT, WHICH SEEKS $500,000 IN DAMAGES FROM THE TOWN AND $10,000 FROM EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.  SUNFLOWER MAYOR MICHAEL T. PEMBLETON WAS NOT SERVED PAPERS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT, AND MAY BE CALLED AS A WITNESS.  HIBBLER SERVED AS SUNFLOWER POLICE CHIEF FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 UNTIL HE WAS TERMINATED IN DECEMBER 2009.  JUDGE ASHLEY HINES HAS BEEN ASSIGNED THE CASE.