Special to SW Rankin News
In a mid-September ruling, Rankin County Circuit Judge Bradley Mills granted a directed verdict in a payroll fraud case against former Richland Mayor ‘Pat’ Sullivan. A 2023 WLBT ‘3 On Your Side’ investigative report of the fraud had resulted in a case against Sullivan, who resigned from office in December of 2023, citing health reasons. A directed verdict is one issued by a trial judge after he/she determines that no legally sufficient evidence exists that would result in a reasonable jury reaching a different conclusion.
The local NBC affiliate reported that the verdict came down minutes before a jury would be allowed to decide Sullivan’s fate…