Crossville Bondsman files Civil Rights claim against State Investigators and Cumberland Co. Sheriff and deputies.

A Crossville businessman is suing investigators for the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the TBI along with Cumberland County, the Sheriff and several deputies for violation of his Civil Rights over an incident that occurred last year.

Jim Howe Jr., doing business as Big Jim's Bonding filed the suit alleging violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights as well as violations of due process, civil conspiracy, conversion of property and invasion of privacy.

Office of Big Jim's Bail Bonds (Photo by Jim Young)

The lawsuit names as defendants, Ronny Howell and Elizabeth Williams both individually as well as Cumberland County, Sheriff Casey Cox, Jason Elmore, Jon Wirey, and Jeff Slayton, each individually and in their official capacity.

The lawsuit was filed on Mr. Howe's behalf by attorneys Ivy Gardner of Crossville and Robert Brooks of Carthage. Mr. Brooks specializes in Civil Rights actions handling such cases for some 40 years. Mr. Brooks explained that this type of suit can't be filed against the state and that is the reason for filing against the two state employees individually.

According to the suit, Ronny Howell is employed by the State Department of Revenue as an investigator and Elizabeth Williams is a TBI investigator.

The suit alleges that a search warrant was served late in the day of August 29 on the office of Big Jim's Bonding, allegedly over a matter of late payment of taxes due on bonds written. The suit states that Howe had previously made arrangements to have the arrears paid and was working directly with a Cookeville representative of the Department of Revenue to have the tax matters resolved.

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The day before, the warrant was served, defendants Elizabeth Williams and Jeff Slayton questioned Howe about allegations of him writing bonds in exchange for drugs and sex. Howe denied the allegations and knew clients had been questioned about those claims. According to Howe's attorneys, no charges have ever been filed regarding any of those allegations.

The search of Howe's business office took 5 hours and at one point during the search, Howe and his attorney were forced out of the office and locked out of the building. Among the items seized were a bail bond tax return and check completed and ready to mail on Howe's desk along with computers, cell phones, cash, business and financial records. Also seized were personal cell phones of employees and their personal cars were also searched.

A lengthy list of items seized were held for some two months before some of the items were returned. A number of evidence bags were not returned along with some $7,900 cash. Howe's cell phone was broken and there was evidence that the phone had been accessed. Other seized cell phones also had been accessed.

On a recent phone call, Mr. Brooks said that none of the parties involved seemed to be able to say what had happened to the cash.

The suit alleges that Howe has suffered a loss in business and damage to his reputation. An additional loss in business of business is alleged by the sheriff's department changing the phone number in the jail directory for Big Jim's Bonding to the number of one of his competitors. In addition, deputies are alleged to have listed Howe's personal cell number as an office number.

Other damages claimed by the suit include the conversion of property and cash that has not been returned along with physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering. Additional damages claimed include general, special and punitive damages and requesting pre and post-judgment interest, all costs and attorney fees and expenses.