Georgia gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’s company and family filed a $100 million lawsuit last week against Jones’s gubernatorial rival, billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson, escalating an already bitter campaign battle just as early voting begins.
The lawsuit, filed by Jones Petroleum Co., accuses Jackson and affiliated entities of libel and defamation stemming from allegations made during the campaign about the Jones family business.
The suit seeks at least $100 million in damages and comes as the contest between Jones and Jackson enters its final stretch before voters choose a Republican nominee to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA). The lawsuit was first filed in March but was later dismissed for lack of service, which means court documents were not delivered to the opposing party in compliance with the law. It was refiled Thursday.
Jones alleges that an advertisement and associated website published by Jackson and his campaign falsely suggest Convenience Stores Inc., of which Jones Petroleum is the sole stockholder, is profiting from a criminal racketeering enterprise. Convenience Stores Inc. is licensed to run coin-operated pay-to-play machines in Georgia.
The company says it has been and continues to be damaged by what it calls defamatory material that is still available to the public. Jones alleges the damage caused by Jackson and his campaign’s claims exceeds $100 million and could harm the business’s livelihood, as franchise agreements could be terminated if the company is thought to engage in illegal business.
Jones and his family’s company filed the lawsuit just days before the Republican primary runoff election on June 16, but an attorney for Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the company will have its claims decided by a Fulton County jury regardless of the runoff election results. An attorney for Jackson told the outlet that the claims hold no merit.
Last week’s filing marks the second defamation lawsuit filed in the highly contested Peach State’s governor race between President Donald Trump’s pick Jones and late entry Jackson.
Jackson sued Jones and his campaign for defamation in March, alleging the state’s No. 2 official accused Jackson of having made his fortune recruiting for Planned Parenthood and helping doctors perform transgender procedures on minors.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT GEORGIA’S PRIMARY ELECTIONS
The runoff campaign between Jackson and Jones has become one of the most expensive and contentious races in Georgia history. Jackson’s self-funded advertising campaign transformed him from a little-known political newcomer into one of the leading contenders for the nomination, while Jackson has relied on his statewide political profile to maintain support among Republican voters.
The winner of the runoff election will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November’s general election.
