Former Grantville Official Threatens Lawsuit Over Investigative Reporting

A former City of Grantville, Georgia public official, Taylor Phillips, has threatened legal action against independent journalist Russell Pickron, founder of Georgia Transparency and GT News Now, over investigative reports concerning her conduct while serving on a city committee board.

In a Cease and Desist Letter dated November 10, 2025, Phillips accused Pickron of “unauthorized use of [her] name and likeness,” demanding that he remove all content featuring her from every platform, including YouTube, Patreon, Facebook, and the Georgia Transparency website. Phillips warned that failure to comply within 30 days would result in “immediate initiation of legal proceedings” seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.

In response, Pickron issued a formal written reply the same day, rejecting all claims and reaffirming his constitutional rights to report on matters of public concern. Citing Smith v. Cumming (11th Cir. 2000) and New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), Pickron stated that his reporting falls squarely under the protections of the First Amendment and the Georgia Constitution’s free speech clause.

He also reminded Phillips that the Superior Court of Coweta County had already entered Summary Judgment in his favor earlier this year in Pickron v. Phillips, Case No. SUV2024001394—finding that Phillips herself made false and defamatory statements about him. Pickron emphasized that all content published by Georgia Transparency is based on truthful, publicly available records and matters of legitimate public concern, including the actions of former government officials.

“Speech about public officials enjoys the highest level of constitutional protection,” Pickron wrote in his response. “Alleged harm to reputation does not outweigh the right of citizens to speak freely about governmental affairs.”

This escalating dispute raises critical questions about press freedom, accountability, and the tension between public criticism and privacy. Phillips’ letter arrives amid a growing trend of former and current government officials attempting to silence journalists and watchdogs through intimidation or threats of litigation—a tactic often referred to as a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation).

For now, Georgia Transparency maintains that its coverage will continue to shed light on government operations and uphold the public’s right to know.