Murphy – A local woman is suing GOP activist Margaret Ackiss for slander and libel, seeking more than $100,000 in damages and punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 29 in Cherokee County Superior Court. Murphy lawyer Zeyland McKinney is representing Karen Close as the plaintiff.
Close alleges that Ackiss has ruined her reputation, cost her her job and interfered with her ability to find work. In all, Close is seeking in excess of $100,000 from Ackiss.
She is seeking an amount more than $25,000 for compensatory damages for slander and an additional amount more than $25,000 for compensatory damages for libel and libel per se, as well as amounts in excess of $25,000 punitive damages for slander and in excess of $25,000 in punitive damages for libel. Close is also seeking that Ackiss pay Close’s litigation costs and any other relief the court decides.
Libel is a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation. Slander is a spoken false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation.
Several attempts to contact Ackiss for comment were unsuccessful.
From the case file
Close began openly supporting William Gelert to be elected chairman of the Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee in February 2023. Close alleges that Ackiss started making “untruthful statements” about her on social media “in an attempt to discredit her and to discredit William Gelert.
Ackiss ran against Gelert in the contest and lost.
“Since losing the election ... Ackiss has willfully and intentionally and with actual malice made numerous false statements about the Plaintiff Close in an effort to destroy her reputation in the community and to have her removed from the Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee,” the lawsuit says.
In various posts, Ackiss claimed Close was a felon with an active investigation in progress in Murphy; conversed with Sheriff Dustin Smith alleging that Close “stole from the good people who have done a lot for the party and the town”; alleged that Close has a felony record in Florida; alleged that the Cherokee County GOP was protecting felons, referring to Ken Close and Michael Close; and claimed that Close was ineligible to serve on the Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee because of the alleged felony record.
“Keep all of that in mind,” Ackiss posted in social media. “Because when the next indictment comes down, you’ll see how dirty they all are.”
In another post, Ackiss said, “FYI – I wouldn’t send my email address to the felon below [referring to Close]. She might steal your email and make a fraudulent account in your name and who knows what she would do or steal?”
Ackiss also called Close a grifter on social media.
In another post, Ackiss said, “The DA is up for election,” referring to Ashley Welch. “I like her fine but I have to say, I’m deeply disappointed in holding back on prosecuting someone who has a proven record of theft outside of our community, when they come here and do it again. And there’s evidence to prove it.”
In all, Close points to 11 social media posts making accusations that Close denies. All of the posts were shared to other people’s pages, the lawsuit alleges.
In her filing, Close described the posts as “untruthful and defamatory,” and alleges that Ackiss knew her statements were untruthful and false and were made “in reckless disregard of the truth of such statements.”
Close alleges that Ackiss’ posts led to her being dismissed from her job at Julie’s Restaurant in Peachtree at a loss of $500 per week in wages and has been unable to secure gainful employment since then.
Close alleged that Ackiss made oral statements on TikTok making similar allegations.
In a TikTok video made on March 21, 2023, Ackiss said, “You did not get probation but you’re lucky because I was going to put you back in jail that was the intent anyway,” according to the filing.
Ackiss has not retracted her untruthful and defamatory written and oral statements about Close, but instead continues to make such statements “with impunity,” according to the lawsuit.
The court filing includes several exhibits of screen shots taken from social media to prove Close’s case. One shows a Cherokee Scout photo of Smith sitting with Close at the Murphy Bojangles.
“Kadeem [Karen] Close is a felon, with an active investigation in Murphy, who also sits on the Cherokee County GOP, is sitting with the sheriff. What’s going on?”
Smith commented on the post, saying, “Come on now Margaret Ackiss I expect better of you, this is a coffee with a cop event where I was speaking to everyone in that restaurant. Had you been there I would have been talking to you also ma’am.”
Ackiss responded, “NO DISRESPECT Dustin but she stole from good people who have done a lot for the party and the town. Sorry, but no, I wouldn’t be sitting with her. But that’s just me.”
There was another post showing Close with Murphy Mayor Tim Radford – another person Ackiss has targeted on social media – saying, “When your mayor supports felons and cheaters but not the businesses they steal from.”