Lawsuit dismissed
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

A lawsuit filed against Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris, former Union County Engineer Richard Cornwell, and Cornwell's environmental consulting firm, R.C. Cornwell Co., LLC, was dropped Monday, April 17, when attorneys for both the plaintiffs and defendants jointly filed a dismissal in federal court.

The suit, which was filed in Union County Superior Court on November 3, 2005, centered around two separate environmental consulting firms. The first was the aforementioned firm owned by Cornwell, who was county engineer at the time, while the second company was North Georgia Environmental Consultants, Inc. (NGEC), owned by the plaintiffs, Mollie Aldrich and Janice Spence.

The suit was based on a number of allegations that included conspiracy, tortious interference with contractual relationships, conflict of interests, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Attorney Donald Cronin represented all of the defendants named in the suit. "The plaintiffs filed a notice to dismiss without prejudice," said Cronin. "It's as if the lawsuit had never been filed. It kind of turns back the clock and wipes it off the books." Because the dismissal was filed "without prejudice," it could theoretically be re-filed within the limitations period.

Ed Marger, attorney for the plaintiffs, said that his clients were satisfied with the resolution to the matter. "The reason that we agreed to dismiss the lawsuit was that Mr. Cornwell has left [the position of County Engineer]," said Marger. "That was one of the two-pronged reasons for the lawsuit."

Cornwell said that his departure had nothing to do with the suit. "I resigned from Union County voluntarily and accepted a position with a private engineering firm in Chattanooga, Tennessee," said Cornwell. "My resignation was for personal reasons and was not related to this lawsuit."

Marger went on to explain the second reason for dismissal. "Presently my clients have been treated as they should be, namely professionally and in accordance with normal business practices that should be held in the county." Marger said that under the circumstances there is no need to pursue legal action. "[My clients] have achieved their purpose. They were never basically interested in money. What they were interested in was being treated as an entity with respect and dignity. There is no need to cause the county to have to pay to defend a lawsuit when the purposes of this suit have been accomplished."