Friday, Mar. 08, 2013
Cass County, auditor present countersuit
By Bethany Bashioum
bbashioum@demo-mo.com
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ReprintCass County and Auditor Ron Johnson have filed a countersuit against Universal Asset Management in response to the now-defunct countywide broadband issue.
In November 2012, Gary Lee filed a suit in the Cass County Circuit Court alleging that UAM had not been paid for approximately $200,000 of work performed for Cass County, and the County’s decision to terminate a contract with UAM for the implementation of broadband services.
UAM also accused Johnson of making false statements and shredding official documents related to a contract.
The county denies the existence of any legally-enforceable contract, and that they never notified UAM of discrepancies which require correction or addition as precedent of payment of any of UAM’s invoice.
In mid-February, Cass County answered to the plaintiff’s suit, as well as presenting a series of six countersuit claims to the tune of $354,000 for payments made directly in reliance upon UAM’s misrepresentations, for punitive damages, and any relief necessary to compensate the county for its losses and attorney costs.
Cass County Presiding Commissioner Jeff Cox said he could not comment on the suit due to the pending legal matters.
