KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Democratic candidate running to represent District 18 in the Tennessee House of Representatives said Tuesday his campaign would file a defamation lawsuit against Republican leaders in the state.
In a release, the Bryan Goldberg campaign said his legal team sent notices of their intent to file for injunctive relief. It said the notices were sent to the State Republican Party, the State House Republican Caucus, Republican Representative Elaine Davis and Parthenon Strategies, LLC.
It said the complaint would be filed in Knox County Circuit Court.
Years before the upcoming November election, he said he was a victim of theft when some of his mail was stolen. The complaint said a check sent to pay for property taxes was modified and cashed by the thief, resulting in his property tax payment not being made.
The complaint said Goldberg later paid the tax in person and penalties resulting from a late payment were waived. He said he and his wife went to the Knox County Sheriff's Office about it, and his wife was put in contact with the Evansville Police Department. He said the person was arrested and accused of illegally cashing the check.
The lawsuit accused the Tennessee House Republican Caucus of creating a website that claims Goldberg is "a tax cheat who dodges timely tax payments." The complaint said the accusations continued after Republican leadership was told it was fake. It also said the website was published with the help of Parthenon Strategies, LLC.
It also accused Davis of at least being complicit in the website and in the statements about Goldberg's property tax payments.
"It's the House Republican Caucus. The last time I checked, Elaine Davis is part of the House Republican Caucus. I think that she's made a public statement that she doesn't condone it, which I appreciate. I believe there's also a public statement that she called the leadership requesting they stop that," he said.
Elaine Davis gave a statement to WBIR about the statements on Goldberg's property tax payments. That statement is below.
"I was not involved with nor aware of the taxcheatgoldberg.com website, as my opponent well knows due to his cease and desist letter addressed to the caucus."
The website was still available as of Monday evening. Online WHOIS data showed the website was registered on Sept. 17. Mailers were also sent out recently with similar messages as the website.
"These mailers were sent after the Defendants knew or should have known that the statements were false but reasserted these false statements in an effort to gain political advantage in the November election," the complaint said.
Those mailers urge voters to vote against Goldberg, accusing him of failing to pay property taxes. The mailers also said they were paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party.
The lawsuit asks the court to intervene and order Republican leadership to stop the statements and also argues the court should order damages to be paid. The Goldberg campaign said if it is given damages, it would donate them to charities like the Young-Williams Animal Center, Bridge Refugee Services and the Legal Clinic at the University of Tennessee College of Law.
"These statements are intended to influence, and likely can influence, the result of the election to be held in November, 2024," the complaint said.
