By Donna Hales
Five members of Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Inc., filed suit against the cooperative board for “impermissible actions” and seek to halt the April 26 election.
The suit alleges each individual defendant engaged in election fraud and that the board is impermissibly seated. Board members consistently made decisions requiring a vote of the membership without presenting the decisions to a vote of the membership, the suit alleges.
Particulars of those allegations are not listed in the filed complaint.
“Obviously, we believe (the suit) doesn’t have any basis and would hope the court would agree with this,” said longtime Lake Region CEO Hamid Vahdatipour.
The suit filed in federal court in Muskogee states the board’s actions have harmed the individual plaintiffs, listed as: Michael Linehan, Sherry Linehan, Ralph Cole, Delisca Cole and Kathleen Cole.
Their attorney, Corrine O’Day was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.
Cooperative board members are listed as: Gary Cooper, Bobby Mayfield, Jim Loftin, Jack Teague, Kenneth Shankles, Lynn Lamons and John Hopkins.
The plaintiffs seek:
• Equitable relief by unseating the individual defendants from the board.
• A delay of the upcoming (April 26) election so it can be conducted properly.
• Compensatory damages.
• Attorney fees and costs, and additional relief as deemed just and equitable by the court.
• Plaintiffs demand a jury trial.
Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email
