Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Atlantic Beach hit with lawsuit by owner

An Atlantic Beach property owner has filed a lawsuit against the town, claiming some current and former town officials do not want to improve the community but preserve it as a drug haven, resent her because of her race and want to destroy a church in the town and those who support it.

Amy Breunig, who owns several rental businesses in Atlantic Beach, filed the lawsuit in October with the Florence division of the U.S. District Court against the town of Atlantic Beach, Police Chief Randy Rizzo, Officer Michele Coleman, former Councilwoman Sherry Suttles, Councilwoman Charlene Taylor, Councilwoman Josephine Isom, Councilman Jake Evans, Town Clerk Jackie Gore, former Mayor Irene Armstrong, former Town Manager Marcia Conner, Town Manager William Booker and Councilman Donnell Thompson.

Booker, who said Sunday he doesn't agree with the claims in the complaint, said the town's attorney is looking into the lawsuit, and that the Town Council will discuss details of it in an executive session today.

Councilman Donnell Thompson, who said Sunday he has not seen the lawsuit, said, "This is a problem that the leadership needs to be proactive on so lawsuits don't become a problem for the town."

Today's meeting, following the executive session, will be the first one since Gov. Mark Sanford suspended Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce after she was indicted Thursday by an Horry County grand jury on a charge related to an April hit-and-run incident.

In an executive order issued Friday, Sanford said Pierce is suspended until she is formally acquitted or convicted.

Pierce's suspension came two days after another Atlantic Beach official, Police Chief Randy Rizzo, was suspended after his arrest by Horry County police outside a pool hall on a charge of public disorderly/public intoxication. Rizzo said he had "too many beers."

Breunig claims in her suit that she purchased property in the town, seeing its potential for development, and that she initially attempted to work with current and former town officials for the betterment of the town until she discovered they wanted to "preserve the town as a drug haven and their private corrupt reserve."

The suit also claims officials have violated Breunig's rights under the First Amendment to practice her faith freely and to express her beliefs freely as she has been a recent ally of the Atlantic Beach Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, which officials want to destroy to protect their drug haven.

Thompson denied those claims.

"No one has been clearer than me when it relates to drugs," Thompson said Sunday. "No one has had as much success as I have to rid drugs in the town since taking office. Prior to me taking office, it was a drug haven. Numerous resources have been used to help us rid the town of drugs. It has gotten a lot better."

Thompson also said the town does not have issues with the church.

"I don't think anyone has any problems with any church or business that follows the guidelines, rules and regulations set up by the town," he said.

Breunig, who is white, also claims in the suit that she has been mistreated and discriminated against because of her race, which has caused her distress, public humiliation, embarrassment and loss of income and other damages. She is seeking an injunction requiring the town and officials to cease violating her rights and asks the court for any costs or relief it sees fit.