Opinion ID: 1664066
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Count 1: Ellis Realty Co. v. Onterrio Jones

Text: ¶ 3. On October 24, 2005, Sutton entered judgment in favor of the plaintiff in the case of Ellis Realty Company v. Onterrio Jones, Docket 2550, Page 891, for past-due rents and removal of the defendant tenant from the Plaintiff's apartment complex. On December 8, 2005, Sutton signed a warrant of removal to evict the defendant by 5:00 p.m. on that date. ¶ 4. The Commission found that, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on December 19, 2005, Sutton (or a Hinds County Justice Court employee at Sutton's request) contacted Clifford Acey of Ellis Realty and reported that Sutton had spoken with the evicted tenant, had decided to stay the Warrant of Removal, and demanded that Acey return the tenant's apartment key to the court. ¶ 5. Acey testified that Sutton called Acey's cellular phone and relayed this information. Acey stored Sutton's number in his cellular phone as proof that the call occurred. Lakesha Bell-Wilson, assistant clerk for the Hinds County Justice Court, later confirmed that the number was Sutton's cellular phone number. Sutton disputes this fact, stating that he never talked to Acey other than during the justice court hearing. ¶ 6. On December 20, 2005, Acey received a facsimile from the Hinds County Justice Court demanding that Acey return the tenant's key to the court or face arrest for contempt. The facsimile was signed by Bell-Wilson. Bell-Wilson testified that Sutton requested she send the facsimile, but she was unsure if Sutton had spoken to either or both of the parties prior to sending the facsimile. ¶ 7. Sutton testified that he ordered Acey to return the apartment key because Acey had failed to reasonably accommodate the tenants, who had tried to make partial rent payments. Sutton stated that he learned about the partial payments from a court clerk, although he could not remember exactly which clerk. ¶ 8. Acey testified that he met Sutton in the hallway outside Sutton's office and delivered the apartment key. Sutton denied meeting Acey in the hallway and stated that he never saw the keys. Bell-Wilson testified that she received the keys, but she could not remember if she received them directly from Acey. Sutton and Acey both stated that during the justice court eviction hearing, Acey promised to work with the tenants who were struggling to cope with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. ¶ 9. The defendant tenant remained in possession of the apartment after Sutton stayed the warrant of removal. After the defendant failed to pay November and December 2005 rents, Acey and Ellis Realty instituted another suit in Hinds County Justice Court to remove him from the apartment.