Greenville-based Nexsen Pruett law firm’s attorney Michael “Mike” Pitts will be the main representative for the county.
The county had been represented by the McNair Law Firm. Tom Martin had worked as the county’s attorney until he resigned late in 2008. Since then, McNair Law Firm attorney Adam Artigliere has been filling in on a temporary basis.
“It was just time to make a change,” says interim Administrator Holt Hopkins, adding that he believes Nexsen Pruett will be a good fit for Anderson County.
“County council trusts them. That’s apparent since they trusted them with the investigation,” Hopkins said.
The Nexsen Pruett Law Firm is also assisting with an investigation in Anderson County’s financial transactions. In January, when the new county council took over, council voted to hire Nexsen Pruett Law Firm attorney Billy Wilkins to investigate the manner in which former administrator Joey Preston was terminated and replaced by Michael Cunningham. Council also voted in January that auditor Bob Daniel investigate the county’s finances.
Pitts will not be involved in the investigation, according to Hopkins.
“Without having so many lawyers, we just have one firm to deal with,” Hopkins said. “I would like to bring it in under one house ─ one law firm.”
Eventually, Hopkins said he would like to establish a system in which the county had an attorney who worked in-house, although that decision will fall on the next administrator.
Hopkins said he believes that having the Nexsen Pruett Law Firm handle both the investigation and provide the general legal representation for the county could make the investigation go faster.
“I support (the investigation),” Hopkins said. “I think if there’s something there, we need to find it. If not, we can put it to rest and get to work.”
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