The Republican Party of Florida and two lawmakers are asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit against them by former Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer. Greer is charged with fraud and money laundering for allegedly diverting $200,000 from the party, in another case. On Monday a Leon County circuit judge heard arguments for and against dismissing the civil suit.
Greer filed the suit against the party to try and recover severance pay of $124,000 after he resigned under pressure in 2010. He accuses the party, along with Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Sen. John Thrasher, of breaching the contract that promised him the severance pay.
But, arguing for dismissal of the suit, Haridoplos’s lawyer, Dean LeBoeuf, said, the dispute is only between Greer and the party.
“The only person, only party to this agreement that can be held responsible is RPOF," he said. "It says that clearly in the agreement."
Greer’s attorney, Damon Chase, had a different interpretation. “It doesn’t say that," he argued. Chase said, because the two lawmakers signed the agreement, they were also responsible for ensuring it was carried out.
Lawyers for Thrasher and the Republican Party also are seeking to get the case dismissed.