Judge Orders Columbus County to Pay $74,557 in Public‑Records Lawsuit

Ruling follows years‑long dispute over access to sheriff‑related documents

By BC News Staff Writer

Columbus County, NC — Columbus County has been ordered to pay $74,557 in legal fees after a Superior Court judge ruled that the county violated North Carolina’s public‑records law during a two‑year dispute with two news media organizations seeking documents tied to former Sheriff Jody Greene.

The lawsuit was filed by The Assembly, a statewide investigative newsroom, and the Border Belt Independent, a regional nonprofit news outlet. The organizations sued in 2024 after repeated delays, denials, and incomplete responses to public‑records requests involving emails, complaints, and investigative materials connected to Greene and several deputies.

Superior Court Judge Quintin McGee found that the news organizations had “substantially prevailed” and that the county failed to comply with state law. The judge issued multiple rulings in their favor before ordering the county to cover the plaintiffs’ attorney fees in May 2026.

County commissioners initially voted to appeal the ruling but reversed course on May 18, 2026, and formally withdrew the appeal the next day. According to public statements from County Attorney Amanda Prince, the decision was made “to avoid further legal fees and costs,” with the office noting that continuing the appeal could have prolonged the case for years.

Public records show the county had already accumulated nearly $58,000 in legal bills before withdrawing the appeal. When combined with the court‑ordered $74,557 payment to the news organizations, the total cost to taxpayers now exceeds $130,000.

The records at the center of the lawsuit relate to Greene, who resigned in 2022 following misconduct allegations and a separate State Bureau of Investigation inquiry. The requested documents included internal communications, citizen complaints, and materials tied to personnel and investigative actions within the sheriff’s office.

The county has not issued a public statement beyond confirming the withdrawal of the appeal. The ruling stands as one of the most significant public‑records decisions in Columbus County in recent years, underscoring the legal requirement for government agencies to provide timely access to public documents.

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