Editor’s note: The Daily News has updated a number of stories published in 2021 and 2022 to better describe Gene Earley’s role in a local controversy and to note that the description of his behavior is an allegation from the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that was filed against him. In that lawsuit, the court ruled that Earley’s actions and statements were Protected Speech on Matters of Public Interest and were not disparagement of the plaintiffs or plaintiffs’ property/LLCs. The court ruled that the plaintiffs’ lawsuit was a SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) case, that Earley is the prevailing party and awarded Earley reasonable attorney fees and costs. The determination of reasonable fees and costs is ongoing. The most recent of these stories can be found at https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/local/2022/05/04/former-okaloosa-commissioner-graham-fountain-denies-seeing-prebble-ramswell-records/7354156001/
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Editor’s note
Reporting by Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
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