A former McComb planning commissioner has filed a slander and defamation lawsuit against former Selectman Devante Johnson, saying his decision to share alleged communications between her and another party painted her as racist and cost her the city position she had held for 15 years.
The dispute began when Maureen Clark was being considered for a three-year reappointment to the planning commission in April, two months before Johnson’s term on the city board ended.
Johnson said during a city board meeting that he had concerns about Clark, citing comments she allegedly made on social media.
When others on the board asked for proof, Johnson said he would present it at the next board meeting on April 26. But he did not until the board met again on May 10.
Johnson said he declined to produce the evidence of Clark’s conversation at the April 26 meeting because the matter wasn’t on the board’s agenda.
In the meantime, Johnson sent the Enterprise-Journal a screenshot of an alleged Facebook Messenger communication, purportedly from Clark, who is white, to an unidentified person. It said selectmen were “acting like a bunch of monkeys up there” in their decision to fire former police chief Damian Gatlin, who is Black.
“As a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s actions, the plaintiff was not reappointed to the McComb Planning Commission,” Clark’s lawsuit says. “Also, as a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s actions, an article was published in the ‘Enterprise-Journal,’ a newspaper in general circulation in Pike County, Mississippi, on May 12, 2022, regarding the defendant’s slanderous, and defamatory statement. The plaintiff would show that further, as a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s willful, wanton, and malicious statement she has suffered humiliation and embarrassment.”
The city board voted 4-2 on April 12 to re-advertise for Clark’s position, which still has not been filled.
In her lawsuit, which represents one side of a legal argument, Clark refers to the message as “an alleged screenshot of a Facebook conversation” and its content as “alleged remarks.”
In addition to slander and defamation, Clark also accuses Johnson of “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Clark is seeking “damages in the sum that will reasonably compensate her for her losses sustained, punitive damages, legal interest, and all cost of court incurred herein.”
Attorney Edwin Bean of McComb is representing Clark in the lawsuit.
Johnson has until Aug. 13 to respond to the filing. Neither he nor his attorney offered a comment Monday.
