Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall accused Alabama Ethics Commission executive director Thomas Albritton and other members of a memorial fund of fraud in a civil court motion this week.
News of the filing was first reported by Mobile-based Lagniappe.
The allegations relate to a civil lawsuit involving the Mabel Amos Memorial Fund, which was formed to provide kids with financial assistance to attend college.
Marshall said in the filing that "by way of example, and without limitation, Thomas A. Albritton, as a member of the Board of the Mabel Amos Memorial Fund, allowed or caused his own children to impermissibly receive scholarship awards from the very trust he was charged with administering."
"Specifically, from the years 2012 – 2019, Albritton caused, allowed, or otherwise acquiesced in the award of scholarships to his children from the Trust totaling more than $100,000," Marshall said in the filing. "These scholarship awards to a Board member's son and daughter violated the terms of the Trust, and are prohibited self-dealing and private inurements."
Marshall added in the filing that "without limitation, the Board members John Bell, Rick Clifton and Thomas A. Albritton, jointly, or separately and severally, breached their duties owed to the Trust, including fiduciary, common and or statutory duties, to prevent Board members, including Thomas A. Albritton, from engaging in acts of self-dealing and granting themselves benefits for personal gain as private inurements."
"The Defendants, jointly and severally, are guilty of negligence, wantonness, breach of statutory and common law fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, breach of contract, and fraud," Marshall stated. "The acts and omissions of the Defendants harmed the Trust."
According to Lagniappe, the lawsuit against members of the trust's board was originally filed by relatives of former Alabama Secretary of State Mabel Amos.
According to the outlet, Albritton has "previously denied engaging in self-dealing, claiming he had abstained from voting for his kids' scholarships, and they were awarded based on merit."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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