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April 15, 2004
$500,000 Lawsuit Against Councilman Brent Taylor
April 15, 2004
Memphis, TN -- Former Fire Chief Nominee Jerry Crawford is suing
Councilman Brent Taylor. Crawford claims Taylor defamed his character in a
television interview in January.
A portion of the lawsuit:
5. Jerry Crawford's Complaint is a claim for damages arising from false
and defamatory statements made by Brent Taylor, a member of the Memphis
City council, outside of council chambers (and therefore not privileged or
protected by legislative immunity) and subsequently published and
broadcast on television newscasts including on or about January 9 and 15,
2004.
9. During the interview, the Defendant Brent Taylor referenced an
internal, confidential report of the Memphis Fire Department as
"justification" for the rejection of Chief Crawford and suggested or
implied that the Plaintiff's performance while commanding Memphis
firefighters at the Family Dollar Store fire at 3732 N. Watkins on June
15, 2003, in which two Memphis firefighters lost their lives, was
questionable or improper or negligent. The implication of the statements
made by Defendant Brent Taylor was that Jerry Crawford was negligent or
derelict in his duties and was responsible for the deaths of the
firefighters who died in the line of during fighting the Family Dollar
Store fire.
Councilman Brent Taylor would not discuss the case, but his attorney Allen
Wade spoke with NewsChannel 3. "I think he believes he gave Mr. Crawford
fair consideration," says Wade. "When you're a public figure you have a
higher standard of proof in malice or defamation cases." Wade says he
plans to vigorously fight the lawsuit.
Crawford is suing for $500,000 plus damages.
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