Lawsuit-Friendly Counties draw hyper-litigants from far and wide

 

A real and growing issue for law enforcement agencies and municipalities across the U.S. The term “serial litigant” or “hyper-litigant” refers to individuals who repeatedly file lawsuits (sometimes dozens or even hundreds) against government entities, often alleging civil rights violations or police misconduct.

Litigants who frequently engage in legal action are likely to be drawn to jurisdictions perceived as plaintiff-friendly. Such “lawsuit-friendly” counties often provide procedural or cultural advantages that increase the likelihood of favorable outcomes, thereby incentivizing forum shopping and undermining uniform application of the law.

The allure of lawsuit-friendly counties rings like a bell to hyper-litigants, many of whom derive their livelihood from the continual filing of claims.

Among the most vulnerable targets are law enforcement officers who lack adequate training or experience. When procedural errors or lapses in judgment occur, hyper-litigants are quick to capitalize, filing suits that exploit even minor missteps. This dynamic not only burdens local courts but also strains public resources and undermines confidence in the justice system. 

Over time, the concentration of such cases in a few plaintiff-friendly venues encourages a culture of opportunistic litigation—one that rewards manipulation of venue and penalizes honest service. 

Extreme Case Samples: 

Anonymous Participant 364 moved to Monroe County in 2017: using multiple aliases and shell companies, has been involved in more lawsuits than any other Monroe County resident.

Jonathan Lee Riches became notoriously known as one of the most prolific pro se litigants in U.S. history. While serving a federal prison sentence, he filed thousands of lawsuits — literally over 2,600 by some counts — against a vast range of defendants.

His lawsuits included filings against:
Public figures like George W. Bush, Martha Stewart, and Britney Spears;
Corporations such as Google, NASCAR, and even “The Eiffel Tower”;
Abstract or fictional entities — once he sued “the Roman Empire” and “the planet Pluto.”

Bankruptcy Twists, Courtroom Calamity, and the Ever-Changing Cast of LLC's

Auction that was planned for 323 McJunkin Road Has been 'Postponed'

Update on the Auction: It was allowed to continue and on 11/13/2025 the property was bought by a local family...

Just when everyone thought the long-awaited auction at 323 McJunkin Road in Tellico Plains might finally close the book on this wild saga — the chairs were almost set, the gavel polished, the auctioneer ready — everything stopped cold.

Now, Billy — a man with what seems like barely a third-grade education — has managed, with the help of the more schooled Daniela, to upend the Monroe County court system for years. Together, they’ve filed, appealed, delayed, and maneuvered their way through the legal thicket like seasoned performers in a courthouse sideshow that began 4 years ago.

Even John Cleveland, a respected attorney known for representing well-heeled clients, was drawn into the spectacle. Taking the plaintiff’s case on consignment, Cleveland stepped far outside his usual clientele — a move that’s had locals wondering whether he regrets trading his high-dollar suits for muddy boots in this Tellico tangle.

A bankruptcy filing dropped like a thunderclap, and the court ruled the auction cancelled. The formerly Miami based Daniela, is Billy's newest gal/pal and loyal co-pilot in this bumpy legal ride. The 323 McJunkin property had been sold to her by Billy, after being purchased from Marion Hamby, and with the bankruptcy now in play, the entire case is likely frozen in legal ice for years to come.

At the heart of the lawsuit, though, was something far more personal than paperwork: Billy’s former girlfriend claimed she had put up 40% of the original purchase money to help him buy the McJunkin Road house. Billy, of course, told a different tale — that the money wasn’t a contribution at all, but a debt she owed him, and that the lawsuit was nothing more than the work of “a woman scorned.”

Still, the courts didn’t seem to buy that argument — and Billy’s next moves only made things murkier. Taking matters into his own hands, he marched into the Tennessee Court of Appeals, representing himself in what would become one of the most talked-about pro se appeals in Monroe County history.

It was fifteen minutes of courtroom calamity, full of sharp turns, contradictions, and unintentional comedy. At one point, Billy argued that the plaintiff’s lawsuit was invalid because it was filed after his LLC had been dissolved. Billy “Whiskey Barrel” had quietly dissolved Whiskey Barrel Trading LLC soon after the sale to Daniela--apparently unaware that an LLC can still be sued after dissolution.

And, he denies ever bragging about being rich — though earlier he’d boasted about yachts and his supposed fortune. Later, he tries to smooth over a misstep involving the Carson Law Firm, first saying they handled “eleven real estate transactions” for him, then quickly downgrading that claim to “situations.”

After 4 Years of Legal Wrangling, the Case Has Gone to Potts

Due to Bankruptcy Filing--Court Rules Auction Cancelled--Case May be Delayed for Years... 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩  "Where's that Whiskey Barrel Mamaw?"

Update on the Auction: It was allowed to continue and on 11/13/2025 the property was bought by a local family...

                                                                                                                                                                 Billy Smith Whiskeybarrel Trading LLC' fought the local circuit court verdict for years in Monroe County TN, then tried to appeal the ruling before the Tennessee Court of Appeals without a lawyer--it is seen as one of the worst pro-se appeals by a non-lawyer litigant--a litany of shocking insults against the former girlfriend did not help his 15-minute oral argument. 

At 6:50 minutes into the oral argument video there are inconsistencies in his remarks; saying that comments about 'him being rich and had yachts' were false but he bragged about his wealth earlier. 

Many other blunders, at 13.58 saying that he had 'the police' working on the case for him!  ... and "I was never given time to understand the law."  

It was confusing from the start: the first words out of his mouth, and you think 'WTF' did he say...? 

He currently uses (or did use) the screen name Rusty Trucks on Facebook...

Newsflash Billy--Makes no difference what shell company name or LLC you hide under--An LLC can still be sued after it's dissolution.

In 2024 the case was dismissed by the Tennessee Appeals Court--this link has the opinion of the court,  https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/opinions/2024/09/27/robyn-h-hurvitz-v-whiskey-barrel-trading-company-llc-et-al

Sheriff Jones refers to local drug dealers as "Our Guys" ...watch the chubby cop in back

Sheriff Tommy Jones refers to local drug dealers as "our guys" -- it shows the symbiotic relationship that often exists between criminals and law enforcement. A while back, Tommy's father Constable Tommy Jones Sr. was arrested by the TBI for sale of narcotics, see video below: he told the news reporter that he 'shouldn't comment' (although he did) and wasn't really worried, that the 'lawyer' would take care of it. Referring to local drug dealers as "our guys" suggests a few things about that symbiotic relationship. 

Undercover 'drug buyers' or 'protected drug dealers/users' ...It may have been another 'slip of the tongue' and likely gone unnoticed by most--but it's a very incisive observation about the complex and often murky relationship that can exist between certain elements of law enforcement and the criminal underworld.

1. Maintaining Equilibrium (The "Devil You Know"): In some cases, authorities might prefer a known, somewhat predictable drug dealer (or low-level operator) over the chaos that could ensue if a power vacuum opened up, leading to turf wars or the entry of a more violent organization. They become "their guys" because they are part of a manageable, albeit illegal, status quo.

2. Corruption or Collusion: On the darkest end of the spectrum, the phrase could point to outright corruption, where officers are actively protecting or benefiting from the criminal enterprise.

3. Informant Network/Control: The phrase implies that these specific criminals are known and perhaps tolerated or even utilized as informants. Law enforcement might see them as "their guys" because they provide information on larger, more dangerous operations or rival criminal groups.

This kind of statement highlights the ethical gray areas and the practical realities that can challenge the idealized view of law enforcement simply eradicating crime. The "symbiotic" element is that the criminals (the dealers) provide a service (information, stability), and law enforcement provides a service (protection, tolerance) in return.