Slander lawsuit filed against former airport manager

BROOKSVILLE -Robert Rey, owner of Jet Concepts Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the former manager of the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.

Rey is alleging that Don Silvernell slandered him by calling him a “crook,”someone who “doesn’t pay his bills,” and “financially incompetent.”

Rey alleges the comments were made to resident Paul Douglas last December . Douglas at the time was investigating the possibility of starting a business at the airport.

Silvernell retired last month and moved to Idaho with his wife.

Rey alleges in the lawsuit that Jet Concepts has lost business because of the statements and is seeking monetary damages, interest, costs and other court relief.

In other news:

. U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara dismissed a discrimination complaint filed last year by Tekova Castillo against former Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams.

Castillo said in the complaint he lost his job because of alleged “unlawful employment practices” by Williams. In the complaint, Castillo also referenced an alleged racial slur uttered against him by former County Commissioner Jeff Stabins, who denied the allegation.