Georgia gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’s company and family filed a $100 million lawsuit last week against Jones’s gubernatorial rival, billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson, escalating an already bitter campaign battle just as early voting begins. The lawsuit, filed by Jones Petroleum Co., accuses Jackson and affiliated entities of libel and defamation stemming from allegations made during the campaign about the Jones family business. The suit seeks at least $100 million in damages and comes as the contest between Jones and Jackson enters its final stretch before voters choose a Republican nominee to succeed term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA). The lawsuit was first filed in March but was later dismissed for lack of service, which means court documents were not delivered to the opposing party in compliance with the law. It was refiled Thursday.
Jones alleges that an advertisement and associated website published by Jackson and his campaign falsely suggest Convenience Stores Inc., of which Jones Petroleum is the sole stockholder, is profiting from a criminal racketeering enterprise. Convenience Stores Inc. is licensed to run coin-operated pay-to-play machines in Georgia.
