A lawsuit brought by one supervisor against three other members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors cost Patrick County $3,621.56 in legal fees and related expenses.
Steve Marshall, of the Blue Ridge District, named fellow board members Chairman Andrew Overby, of the Dan River District; Vice-Chairman Clayton Kendrick, of the Mayo River District, and Jonathan Wood, of the Peters Creek District in the suit filed on April 20.
All of the counts were related to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Five of the counts filed against the board of supervisors were dismissed by Circuit Court Judge Marcus Brinks, and the remaining count was voluntarily withdrawn during the April 27 hearing.
According to the invoice from Guynn Waddell, P.C., the county’s attorney, Jim Guynn, who served as the attorney in the case, worked 15.10 hours preparing for and arguing the case in court.
At a rate of $200 an hour, the legal fees cost $3,020.
The invoice states travel expenses were also paid for Guynn, including $117.45 for travel expenses to and from Stuart for the court appearance and $59.11 for the meal expense at El Rancho in Stuart.
The invoice also states $425 was paid to Team Trial One, Inc. for court reporter fees.
The funds spent during the suit will be paid from the county’s legal budget.
The three supervisors named in the suit also faced some financial issues due to needing to attend the court date.
Overby said the suit only cost him the time and mileage he used to attend the April 27 hearing.
Kendrick said he had to take the day off from work.
“You’re looking at probably $600-$700 dollars gross that day,” Kendrick said.
Wood said he took a sick day from work to attend the court hearing.
Marshall paid $159.12 to file the petition and have the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office serve the other board members and county administration.
Marshall estimates he spent a couple hundred dollars on materials and filing the petition.
No one was ordered to pay any court fees or costs.
