Peachtree City

resident Steve Brown, who was sued for libel over a letter to the editor

criticizing the city attorney in February of last year, is still seeking

reimbursement of his legal fees incurred defending himself.

Brown, who

is also running for mayor of Peachtree City, has incurred almost $10,000

in fees, according to documents filed by his attorney last month. He contends

that James H. Webb Jr., the former city attorney who later dropped the

libel suit, brought the litigation to silence criticism.

Martin C. Jones,

an attorney representing Webb, said Webb contends Brown is not entitled

to have his attorney's fees reimbursed.

After the suit

was withdrawn by Webb, Brown said a number of citizens contributed funds

to pay for his legal defense. Brown has since indicated he wants to repay

those funds.

Brown claims

both parties attempted to settle the matter at an earlier date, but a

settlement wasn't reached because Webb "insisted that the deal be

confidential and not disclosed to the public."

In a response

to that allegation, Jones said Webb "has not made any settlement

offers and does not intend to make any." Webb still contends that

Brown made false statements about him, but "he finds it inappropriate

for anyone to publicly comment further on pending litigation."

The letter

written by Brown claimed that Webb violated conflict of interest by serving

as city attorney and being on the board of directors of a newly formed

bank along with developers who are sometimes at odds with city officials.

A hearing on

the matter has been scheduled for Nov. 12 before Superior Court Judge

James E. Findley of Claxton. Local Superior Court judges recused themselves

from the case since it involves attorneys who practice locally.

Webb is a partner

in the Peachtree City law firm of Webb, Lindsey, Collins, Jones and Wade.

Another attorney from that firm, Rick Lindsey, currently serves as the

city attorney for Peachtree City.

Last year,

Webb sued Brown, Fayette Publishing Inc. (which owns The Citizen) and

Citizen Publisher Cal Beverly, claiming libel damages. The suit was dropped

in June of last year with the firm claiming an article in the Atlanta

Journal-Constitution relating to the letter vindicated its viewpoint.

The Citizen

declined to seek reimbursement of attorney's fees in the case.