EATONVILLE, Fla. — A lawsuit over Eatonville's latest elections will move forward after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case.
Former Mayor Bruce Mount's attorney, Jake Stuart, claims in the civil complaint that Mayor Anthony Grant bribed people to vote for him via absentee ballot in order for him to win the election.
On Thursday a judge denied Grant's request to dismiss the case and expressed interest in resolving the case quickly, saying the outcome is critical to the town's leadership.
Last month Channel 9 tracked down one of the voters Grant is accused of paying to vote.
Danielle Jones' mother said Grant gave her daughter $10 after she filled out her absentee ballot, but said it was for a doctor's appointment and not in exchange for a vote.
Stuart said he has a list of people who he believes were bribed by Grant who is also their landlord.
"Sometimes with cash, sometimes with beer and booze," Stuart said.
"It's false. We think it's a lawsuit based on things they suppose, we don't think it's anything that's real," Anthony Grant's attorney Matt Leibert said.
The judge wants to schedule a hearing within the next couple of weeks.
While the lawsuit is a civil case, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the allegations against Grant.
WFTV
