In a letter to the editor published in The Citizen (June 8), Peachtree City Mayor Don Haddix expressed “regret” for saying in an email that former mayor Harold Logsdon “drank a lot and came to meetings part drunk.”
Haddix is in the crosshairs of a libel lawsuit for sending the comment, which was contained in a Feb. 22 email he wrote to former city economic development coordinator Joey Grisham about a proposal to extend the sales hours for alcohol.
“I do extend my regrets to Harold Logsdon since I never meant him any harm,” Haddix wrote in the letter, which is published in full on page A4. “I simply meant that even the likely supporters of the proposal were forced to vote against it, even someone widely known to frequent bars.”
Logsdon served as mayor of Peachtree City from January 2006 through December 2009. Haddix served as a council member for two of Logsdon’s four years in office.
Haddix said he was trying to impart the historical background on extending the hours for alcohol sales in the city. He also noted that he sent the email only to Grisham, while Logsdon’s suit alleges that many more people have subsequently read the email, which is a public record.
“Some times in the rush of a string of 12 emails, with all else going on, we don’t take the time that we should,” Haddix wrote. “I certainly meant no harm to Harold Logsdon.”
In the suit, Haddix is accused of failing to retract the statement. It is not known if the letter is intended to meet a legal requirement in order to thwart the suit.
Logsdon filed the suit against Haddix personally, and not in his official capacity as mayor. Haddix wrote that his attorney is preparing to formally answer the suit.
Despite defending the email in part, Haddix did use part of his letter to apologize.
“Being human, I have made mistakes in (the) past and will probably make some more in the future,” Haddix wrote. “My choice of words in this hasty email were regrettable. To Harold Logsdon and the good people of Peachtree City, I express my regrets.”
The suit notes that Haddix’s statement in essence accuses Logsdon of illegal conduct, since it would be a violation of a city ordinance for a person “to be and appear in an intoxicated condition in any public place, including … public buildings, offices and all other places generally open to the public.”
While it is generally accepted that it is near impossible to libel an elected official or a “public figure,” it is not clear if that will be a solid defense for Haddix in this case. Since the email was sent Feb. 22, 2011, it happened many months after Logsdon backed out of his campaign to become the state insurance commissioner.
Logsdon bowed out of the campaign due to health reasons.
Logsdon is asking the court for a jury trial, both compensatory and punitive damages and for all court costs.
