A former Crenshaw County Circuit Court Clerk has been found liable for fraud and other financial misconduct in a lawsuit filed by the Alabama Circuit Clerks Association. 

In a Shelby County Circuit Court ruling issued Thursday, Feb. 20, Judge William H. Bostick, III granted a partial judgment of liability against former Circuit Clerk Jeannie Gibson, also known as Olga J. Gibson. The order decreed Gibson liable for fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent suppression, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and unjust enrichment. An amount for damages and other relief due to the association was delayed for a trial to be scheduled at a later date.

In her answer to the allegations, Gibson “clearly and unequivocally” admitted to “all claims in the complaints.” The answer reads, in part:

“I admit that I took money belonging to the Alabama Circuit Clerks Association. I admit all claims in the complaint.”

According to court records, the case was heard in Shelby County Circuit Court due to all parties having sufficient minimum contacts with Shelby County to establish personal jurisdiction.

The civil lawsuit, filed on Feb. 10, alleged that Gibson, who served as Secretary/Treasurer of the association from 2019 until her resignation in January, misappropriated funds belonging to the association over a period of several years.

According to the complaint, members of the executive committee for the association conducted a review of the group’s check register on one bank account in January. The review revealed Gibson had misappropriated funds and provided false and incomplete financial reports to conceal improper use of funds for personal gain between September 2019 and this past January.

“It appears that [Gibson] was using her access to and authority on the clerk’s association bank accounts to write checks for personal expenses and to withdraw large sums of cash,” the complaint reads.

In her response to the allegations, Gibson said the association checkbooks were delivered to the Sport Law Office in Luverne and collected by a member of the association. 

“The First Citizen’s Bank checking account had a balance when the checkbook was handed over,” Gibson said. “I do not know if the account has been closed. When the account was created, Circuit Clerk Susan Odom [of Walker County] also had signature authority on the account.]”

Representatives for the Alabama Circuit Clerks Association have declined to comment on the ruling, but court filings indicate that the association is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney’s fees and other legal relief. 

Gibson told the court she is gathering requested information. Case filings include subpoenas for records from Central State Bank, Brantley Bank and Trust and Citizens Bank. 

As legal proceedings continue, further developments will determine the extent of Gibson’s financial obligations to the association.