BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood leaders falsely alleged that the CEO of a local marketing firm had a romantic relationship with a sitting councilman in order to land a marketing contract with the town, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
The suit also accuses a Camden news organization of publishing false claims in multiple news stories.
Ashley Hunter, chief executive officer and owner of MPA Strategies, filed the suit Jan. 30 in Richland County Circuit Court.
Blythewood Mayor Bryan Franklin; Tonya F. Page, editor of the Country Chronicle; the Town of Blythewood; and Camden Media Company LLC which publishes the Country Chronicle, are listed in the suit as Defendants.
The suit alleges defamation, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, and negligence by Blythewood Mayor Bryan Franklin and Country Chronicle Editor Tonya F. Page; defamation, breach of contract and negligence by the Town of Blythewood and negligence by Camden Media Company LLC.
“The basic premise of this lawsuit is that Defendants were party to an effort by the Mayor to suggest that Plaintiff obtained business not based on merit, but instead based on romantic involvement with a Town Councilman,” the suit states. The lawsuit goes on to deny any romantic involvement occurred.
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