Previously, I predicted the Closed Session at the February 2, 2021 Commissioners was one of two of the Federal Lawsuits that I know of that have been filed against Cleveland County. I was wrong. The Closed Session, per a statement made by Commissioner Chairman Doug Bridges, was about a Federal Lawsuit filed on January 14, 2020 by the Southern Power Company that alleges that Cleveland County Commissioners failed to pay up on their agreement to pay the incentives the County contracted to pay if Southern would build their $500 Million gas fired power plant in Cleveland County. Southern Power Company built the $500 Million Plant near Grover and the Commissioners refused to pay up, claiming that a change in the North Carolina Constitution made it illegal for them to pay. Oh Yeah! And the dog ate the commissioner’s homework.
Commissioner Bridges also said that the County was going to file a Motion in Federal Court to dismiss the lawsuit.
My research indicated that Cleveland County has already filed two motions to dismiss and a Federal Judge has already dismissed both of Cleveland County’s previous Motions to dismiss.
I would say that the Southern Company, owner of the Southern Power Company and based in Atlanta Georgia with 29,000 employees, is NOT known for filing frivolous lawsuits. Southern is one of the top electrical power Companies in the US and has a top-notch legal team. They are not afraid of the Commissioner’s Motions to dismiss and any legal shenanigan will end in the US Supreme Court.
Also, Cleveland County’s legal liability insurance may well not cover such a lawsuit as this as Cleveland County has surely and knowingly violated their own contract.
So, where does that leave the Commissioners? They will probably lose this case and the taxpayers will have to pick up the bill. All of the bills and Southern’s legal bills too. Like Commissioner Doug Bridges said, this lawsuit is for $Million$. And in cases like this, the County Taxpayers will have to pay. And Pay! And PAY!!! Lucky US!!!.
Folks, The Commissioners have kept this quite for over a year and they probably would NOT have mentioned it this time except for my questions about who are the Parties in this case. They had to know I would dig deep when I got wind of this. Just like the New School Board knows I am digging into their illegal shenanigans. Stay tuned for that. Also stay tuned to this too. There is much more digging that I will do. Even go to the Federal Courthouse in Asheville or Charlotte if necessary. I’ve done it before.
Stay Tuned!!!
