FIRST ON 3: Former superintendent fights defamation lawsuit

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– Former Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Edward Pruden is facing a lawsuit over alleged defamatory statements.

In January, founder of Roger Bacon Academy, Baker Mitchell, sued Pruden over false accusations.

Mitchell’s attorneys say Pruden made several false statements in public letters about the way Mitchell runs his charter schools. This happened while Pruden was superintendent. Mitchell says Pruden falsely accused him of profiting off of taxpayer dollars when Mitchell applied to open a charter school in Brunswick county.

They say that affects Mitchell’s reputation as a public official.

Pruden’s attorneys say all of those letters were published on Brunswick County School letterhead and they were signed by the board members and legal council. Pruden’s attorneys say he has sovereign immunity as a public official.

Mitchell’s attorneys say the problem is that Pruden re-published the letters a few months later. They say that is acting maliciously.

A judge continued the hearing after Mitchell’s attorneys requested to file an amended complaint adding more damages and allegations.

Now the attorneys must come back with additional arguments.