Defendants file counterclaims against Stokes

The squabble over whether Oconee’s top building official should have been fired has been joined in the Common Pleas Court.  Responses and counterclaims were filed this week for defendants Oconee County, Wayne McCall, and Edda Cammick.  Plaintiff David Stokes alleges slander and wrongful termination.  But the court filings for the defendants claim Stokes is pursuing a frivolous lawsuit and is guilty of ulterior motives by defaming both McCall and Cammick.  The counterclaim on behalf of Cammick, the council chair, alleges an example of the defamation is Stokes’ claim that she tried to exploit her position for  personal gain by not having to provide engineering plans for a pre-fabricated structure on her property.  McCall denies making any statements that were false or with reckless disregard for the truth.  His attorneys say he is a public official and no allegations were made with actual malice.  They say Stokes’ claim should be dismissed.  The attorney for Strokes has responded with a motion to throw out the counterclaims against his client. Part of the dispute centers on what was said during an April budget meeting.  According to the defendants’ responses, “…these Defendants would show that the meeting in question was videotaped and that the contents of that video tape speak for themselves and that all Plaintiff’s allegations that are contrary to the contents of that video tape are expressly denied and strict proof is demanded….”