The latest news? Long wants to recoup the settlement money he gave three of the five men accusing him of sexual coercion. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Attorneys representing Eddie Long's church have informed three of the five young men who accused the pastor of sexual coercion that they intend to recover nearly $1 million from their financial settlement, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.Oh brother. Something tells me that we have only just begun with this in spite of all that's happened over the past year.
The letter, sent this week by the Atlanta law firm Drew Eckl & Farnham, alleges that Jamal Parris, Spencer LeGrande and Centino Kemp violated terms of a confidentiality agreement outlined in the settlement with Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The firm is seeking at least $900,000 already paid the three accusers, according to people involved in the settlement but not authorized to speak publicly. That figure is a portion of the total settlement with the three men.
Financial terms of that settlement have not been disclosed but, based on the letter and the fact each of the young men were paid equitably, the total comes to at least $1.5 million.
The letter outlines the plaintiffs' "demand for arbitration" though no legal documents have yet been filed.
The letter could simply be a threat, said Atlanta litigator Hayden Pace.
"No one's going to turn over the money just simply because you've asked for it," Pace said. "You're going to have to earn it back by establishing your right to it in the courts."
Parris and LeGrande, who broke their silence in an interview with the AJC last month, said at the time they were aware of the risk.
“I’m going to tell the world – money does not buy happiness,” LeGrande said in August. “When you sleep at night, the problems are still there. The money stuff, who cares about the number.”
“I feel like burning [the money],” he said.
Related posts:
Eddie Long's accusers speak out even after settlement
Anti-gay pastor Eddie Long's fifth accuser in lawsuit
Eddie Long scandal underscores failure of the black church
Eddie Long scandal - Chronology of what has happened and where we are now
Who knows where the nose goes? Perhaps the youngmen spoke of their abuse before the settlement? Pastor Eddy can´t control the contempt for him that many must feel and may be reprinted (again, all public-domain news before the settlement)...I even know about every detail in Puerto Rico and I know NONE of the participants. Pastor Eddy best cultivate forgiveness and stop growing his resentments/pride for being exposed as the grandstanding fellow he really is. Leonardo Ricardo
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