By BRUCE COLLIER
A five-count lawsuit was filed July 10 in Circuit Court for the First Judicial Circuit naming Cecilia A. Jones and her husband Jerry P. Jones as defendants. The lawsuit does not sue Cecilia Jones in her capacity as a Walton County Commissioner, and makes no allegations of official misconduct. The complaint, filed by plaintiff Michael R. Camacho, alleges “conversion, undue influence, unjust enrichment, constructive trust and resulting trust,” and seeks equitable and/or monetary damages.
The lawsuit arises out of the estate of Laverne Camacho, who died in April 2012, and whose will apparently established a testamentary trust. Michael R. Camacho is Laverne’s son. The 58-paragraph complaint centers on “Disputed Sums” of the estate and the defendants’ alleged fiduciary obligations regarding handling of the sums. The plaintiff maintains that the disputed sums are intended for his benefit, and demands that a resulting or constructive trust be imposed that the sums may be used for his “exclusive benefit,” as well as demanding an accounting and any damages incurred.
No connection is made between this dispute and Cecilia Jones’ official acts as a member of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.
Contacted by the Herald/Breeze about the lawsuit, Cecilia Jones said that she had not yet been served with the complaint, but offered the following written statement as comment:
“Elections are notorious for last ditch, desperate and dishonest efforts to discredit candidates. If opposition cannot win honestly, they will try fabricating the truth even at the expense of filing a frivolous lawsuit. The fact that the media received copies of this lawsuit and I have not even been served speaks to the motive and the ethics of those behind it. The timing is not a coincidence and those who have threatened to use this against me politically will be exposed and I trust that justice will prevail.”
The lawsuit, Case No. 12CA 660, was filed by Steven B. Bauman, of Anchors Smith Grimsley law firm of Fort Walton Beach. Jones said she and her husband are consulting legal counsel to respond to the lawsuit.