Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) — A circuit court judge has denied motions filed by attorneys for former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine seeking court-imposed sanctions against defendants in his wrongful termination lawsuit arising from his 2024 dismissal.
Prine’s legal team submitted two separate filings alleging serious discovery violations, including the intentional withholding, redaction, or destruction of evidence. After reviewing the arguments, the judge declined to sanction the defendants, determining that the allegations did not warrant punitive action at this stage of the proceedings.
One motion centered on Kenyen Brown, a former U.S. attorney retained by the City of Mobile to conduct an independent review of police practices. Prine’s attorneys alleged that Brown and his firm failed to produce relevant documents and improperly redacted materials requested during discovery.
Tom Benton, counsel for Prine, asserted that the conduct significantly impeded the discovery process and undermined the integrity of the case. He argued that the alleged actions justified severe sanctions, including a default judgment.
The second motion accused senior city officials of potential misconduct related to document preservation. The filing referenced a text message allegedly sent by James Barber, who was serving as chief of staff at the time, instructing then–Public Safety Director Rob Lasky to shred a document.
According to Prine’s attorneys, the message raised concerns about whether public records were improperly destroyed during a period when litigation was reasonably anticipated. They argued that such conduct, if proven, would constitute a serious violation of public records and discovery obligations.
Defense attorneys forcefully denied the allegations, maintaining that no documents were intentionally destroyed, concealed, or mishandled. They asserted that all discovery responses complied with legal requirements and that the accusations were unsupported by evidence.
While the judge’s ruling rejects the request for sanctions, it does not address the merits of Prine’s wrongful termination claims. The lawsuit, which challenges the legality and justification of his removal as police chief, remains active.
The case is expected to proceed with additional discovery and future hearings as the court continues to evaluate the underlying claims.