Thompson sues Walton In Action member for defamation

Suit: Sack accused of defaming Thompson with corruption allegations

Walton County Chairman David Thompson filed a defamation suit on Monday against Ron Sack, one of the primary organizers behind the recall effort led by activist group Walton In Action.

Thompson’s suit accuses Sack of “publishing false statements on social media and in large online group communications, including but not limited to Facebook posts about a recall effort” aimed at Thompson.

Walton In Action has been locked in conflict with Thompson for months since the chairman cast the deciding vote to raise the county millage rate by nearly 20%.

Ron Sack – photo credit: The Walton Tribune

The vote caused an uproar among county residents leading to protests, online attacks against Thompson and, eventually, a failed effort to recall Thompson from office with allegations of corruption over an annexation vote that would ostensibly benefit Thompson’s real estate dealings.

Sack was a leading figure in Walton In Action and was vocal on social media about what he argued were Thompson’s failings.

The lawsuit claims Sack “falsely accused (Thompson) of corruption, financial self-dealing, conflicts of interest, dishonesty, intimidation and harassment of citizens, misuse of public office and other unethical conduct.”

Sack posted on Nov. 17, claiming Thompson voted on an annexation application submitted by a developer that owed money to Thompson’s real estate company.

“In my view, approving the annexation directly benefitted Thompson financially and any decision that affects a public official’s own pocketbook is a textbook conflict of interest,” Sack’s post read.

Thompson denies both voting on the measure and claims that not recusing himself from the matter does not rise to the level of malfeasance.

Sack argued Thompson’s business dealings were troubling to those who value open government.

“I want commissioners who are above reproach and in my opinion, Dave Thompson does not meet that standard,” Sack’s post read. “I do not like or trust this man to protect my interests.

“In my opinion, he appears far more interested in benefitting himself than in serving the public.

“Thompson is living proof why Walton County citizens deserve a new commissioner who operates in the open, follows ethical standards and serves the people instead of himself.”

The lawsuit claims Sack was asked to take down Facebook posts making these allegedly false allegations but has failed to do so.

Sack further posted about Thompson’s attacks on the recall, alleging Thompson had something to hide in another post the lawsuit presents as evidence of defamation.

“He’s spending tens of thousands of dollars on attorneys to discredit a lawful citizen-led recall petition,” Sack posted on Nov. 15. “Either he’s the most civic-minded official in Georgia, personally bankrolling an expensive legal fight ‘for our protection,’ or he sees this job as a golden goose… it’s the power, influence, side hustle and control that comes with it.”

In addition to claiming Sack’s posts about Thompson’s real estate dealings are false and defamatory, the lawsuit also takes issues with Sack’s posts about being served with a subpoena.

During Thompson’s legal challenge to the recall effort — an ultimately successful challenge that saw a state judge strike down the recall after failing to meet the burden of proof for a recall — Sack was one of many Walton In Action members who were served by the court with papers to come testify in depositions ahead of  the formal court hearing before the judge.

Sack posted about the subpoenas, calling the effort an intimidation tactic orchestrated by Thompson and his legal team to silence opponents.

“The ‘Goon Squad’ he sent out to serve circulators with subpoenas left people feeling threatened, intimidated and harassed but he cannot silence us,” Sack posted on Facebook. “We will be there at court to watch him try to explain away the misconduct and malfeasance with which he has been charged.”

The lawsuit claims the written attacks against Thompson rise to defamation as they were made in public forums online and rise to the level of attempting to damage Thompson’s reputation.

The suit also argues not only are Sack’s statements false but that Sack knew them to be false when he made them, as he “negligently and maliciously published the statements which have been and can be discredited.”

The suit seeks punitive damages against Sack for “willful misconduct, malice, wantonness and that entire want of care which raises the presumption of conscious indifference to the consequences of his actions.”

The suit also asks the court to force Sack to pay his legal fees as Sack “has acted in bad faith in the underlying transaction, been stubbornly litigious and put (Thompson) to unnecessary trouble and expense.”

Thompson has not publicly issued a statement on the suit since it was filed, but did call his online critics and recall opponents “dingleberries” on Thursday during his annual State of the County address during the Walton County Chamber. of Commerce’s last monthly business luncheon of the year.

Walton In Action promised to issue a statement earlier in the week but ultimately declined to comment at this time.