Bill Sponsored by Sen. Nicely Would Aid Fugitive Couple in Property Rights Fight Against Dunlap City

 

By David Tulis / Noogaradio 1240 AM 92.7 FM

A bill sliding through the Tennessee General Assembly offers unexpected aid to Thomas and Carol Gaddy, the homeowners from Sequatchie County who are in hiding while a judge demands permission for Dunlap city officials to search their house.

The bill by Sen. Frank Niceley would have the secretary of state determine if a property has been annexed into a municipality if a property owner asks for proof. SB 338 would allow Mrs. Gaddy to pursue one of her arguments in a property rights case has turned her into a fugitive.

She and Mr. Gaddy face arrest because they are under a civil contempt order in the court of Chancery Judge Thomas Graham. Because they have not consented to a search of their property, absent a finding of probable cause, Judge Graham issued a bench warrant in March for their arrest and intends to keep them in jail until they allow what the city terms an inspection.

Mrs. Gaddy has sued Judge Graham for abuse of office. In an interview she says it is unethical for him to maintain any action against her because he is an interested and biased party.

Challenge to town’s claims

The bill by Sen. Niceley and a companion bill in the state House of Representatives lets a property owner request verification of annexation. Once the request has been made, the secretary of state shall request all the annexation ordinances from the city and all results of referendums on annexation is held by the municipality (emphasis added).

The secretary of state shall review the submission by the municipality and any private acts affecting the boundaries of the municipality and determine whether the property owned by the person making has been annexed by the municipality. If it is determined that the subject property has not been annexed, any property taxes paid by the property owner to the municipality shall be reimbursed to the property owner, with interest.

State archives indicate Dunlap has not incorporated her property, Mrs. Gaddy says. Her house along Coops Creek is a rifle shot away from city hall in the middle of town. If she can verify that that Dunlap’s corporate growth legally missed her lot, the civil case against her collapses. She says it is possible that the city has fraudulently collected taxes from property owners since the 1970s.

Troubled case

But the judiciary does not take contempt lightly. Judge Graham has ordered the couple incarcerated until they say “yes” to a search of their property. The case was troubled from the beginning. It was filed against a spirited and constitution-quoting property owner, a woman with real estate experience and a great deal of grit. The case is before a judge with no jurisdiction under the city charter; it was filed in chancery, though the charter says the sole domain for all disputes under the ordinance is city court.

“The city judge shall have jurisdiction in and over all cases for the violation of and all cases arising under the laws and ordinances of the city,” reads Article 16, section 1.

The city’s action pretends that there is a civil basis for probable cause. But probable cause for a search is created only when there is a sworn affidavit and allegation of a criminal act. No criminal act has been alleged against the Gaddys. Yet the city has fought for nearly two years for the authority to “inspect” the house, based on a property line look-see by mayor Dwain Land.

The couple say they “will not yield their God-given rights of free will agency of choice, regarding who to allow into their home,” adding:

Our home is grandfathered, predating all municipal ordinance enforcement. All permits and inspections mandated, by Tennessee building codes were purchased and were allowed inspections, as already proven in this case with defendants filings.

Mr. Land, a businessman and landlord, faces re-election with two challengers. The litigation has cost city taxpayers at least $20,000, paid to the Greer, Swafford & Adams law firm.

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Editors note: Read more about this harrowing case: http://nooganomics.com/?s=gaddy

David Tulis is an editor of Nooganomics.com and reports on local economy and free markets at Noogaradio 1240 AM 92.7 FM.