FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
WATKINS GROUP CALLS FOR RESIGNATION AFTER ARMED INCIDENT
Attempt to serve court summons met with demand to leave at gunpoint
(Nashville, TN)
Following a disturbing incident of threatened gun violence at a Nashville-area residence early yesterday evening, the group called 'Save Watkins' is calling on Governor Lee to remove one of the Commissioners of the Board that oversees Watkins College of Art.
Gerald Mattis, a process server for attorneys retained by plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Watkins Board of Trustees stated under oath that, when he attempted to serve a legal summons to Watkins Commissioner Susan Basham at her Harding Place home, a man who he believes to be her husband angrily refused the documents, pulled out a gun and demanded that he leave the property.
The document that Gerald Mattis attempted to serve, is a summons to appear for a Chancery Court hearing scheduled for this Friday, March 20, on the objections by two Watkins students and an adjunct professor to the merger deal that would close the Watkins campus and transfer the Watkins name, and up to $20 million dollars, to Belmont. Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal, who presides over Chancery Court Part 1, had ordered the plaintiffs to serve the papers.
A police incident report was filed last night by Mattis. At this time it is not known what if any criminal charges will be filed. Brandishing a weapon is a Class C Felony under Tennessee Law 39-13-102 (a)(1)(B), Aggravated Assault. The incident report number is 20-192811.
Jonathan Fagan and Kevin Teets, attorneys for Save Watkins, released this statement:
"Our clients have been asking for answers and transparency now for weeks and have been ignored and told their voices do not matter. We will persist in fighting for the truth and justice to save Watkins despite the unacceptable criminal behavior meant to bully and intimidate our efforts."
Watkins College is overseen by three Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor and approved by the State Senate. They, in turn, serve as an executive committee over a larger Board of Trustees.
The statement released by “Save Watkins” reads:
"A man, who we believe to be the husband of our State-appointed Commissioner, Susan Basham, threatened one of our legal representatives with a firearm yesterday during an attempt to service a legal notice. This was an unlawful response to a routine procedure that is required by our courts of law.
This incident comes after a long history of opacity and stonewalling on the part of our board as they have attempted to dissolve our college and give its assets to Belmont University, but this raises antagonisms to a new and shocking level.
Violence should have no place in our courts, let alone our colleges and universities. We believe this situation warrants serious consideration regarding the character of our board members and their ability to effectively and lawfully fulfill their roles. Therefore, for these reasons and the sake of Watkins College of Art's reputation, we call on Governor Lee to request Susan Basham's resignation."
CONTACTS:
Save Watkins, Quinn Dukes, 646.704.4761, quinndukes@gmail.com
Kevin W. Teets Jr., 615.933.8230, kevin.teets@kevinteetslaw.com
Jonathon Fagan, 615.604.1030, jd@faganjd.com