ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County will have to shell out $64,000 for Commissioner Jamie Gathings’ legal fees — as long as he can stay out of trouble for the next 10 months.
The reimbursement is one of the provisions of settlement approved by a majority of the board — with Commissioners Andy Grooms and Robin Roberts dissenting — during a special meeting on July 9.
The settlement was submitted July 8 by Gathings’ attorney Ellen Bragg of Monroe-based law firm Leitner, Bragg & Griffin. The RO obtained a copy July 10 from county attorney Michael Newman.
The sixth provision of the statement indicates that Gathings incurred $64,000 in legal fees between three lawsuits — not including a defamation lawsuit filed against Gathings from Commissioner Jason Gainey — and that the county will pay that amount after 10 months if Gathings complies with the Code of Ethics.
“Mr. Gathings will forfeit this amount in the event that a majority of the Board determines that Mr. Gathings has not complied with the Code of Ethics during the ten month period by engaging in one or more act equal to or greater in severity to any of the acts referenced in the McGuire Woods report as reported by one or more County employees,” the settlement reads.
“The Agreement will recite this amount is being paid solely because of an economic decision based upon a determination by the county that it would pay far more in fees to continue to defend the three actions filed by Mr. Gathings as opposed to resolving the lawsuits and disagreements with Mr. Gathings at this juncture.”
The first section of the settlement states that the board will amend a prior resolution and rescind the ban on Gathings’ entry into county-owned buildings and that the board will not move forward with the quasi-judicial amotion proceeding.
Gathings has offered to drop all lawsuits and claims within one business day of the amended resolution.
If an amotion proceeding is pursued after the 10-month period, the board will not suspend Gathings from participation pending the proceeding — which will not include evidence “as to any past known conduct of Mr. Gathings.”
The second section states that all parties will enter into a written agreement that the issues have been resolved and Gathings acknowledges that no one in the county government, elected or staff, “did anything wrong … violated any law, or … failed to do anything that he/she/they should have done.”
Section 5 of the settlement states that commissioners “will respect the county manager form of government by not interacting with county staff during business hours unless necessary for the required duties and responsibilities of a commissioner.”
Sections 3 and 4 both address Gathings’ end of the deal, which include:
In a statement to the RO on Wednesday evening, Gathings offered a public apology to Roberts, Gainey and the county employees.
“Mr. Gathings wants to move forward with his fellow Board members as a unified Board,” concludes the settlement. “His actions during the May 5, 2025, meeting and during the Amazon announcement celebrations illustrate the same.
"While members of the Board may disagree on issues in front of the Board, he is committed to carrying out his duties in a respectful and professional manner. Mr. Gathings wants what is best for Richmond County.”
