More lawsuits surface against Councilwoman Boles

Three more lawsuits have emerged against Lansing City Councilwoman A’Lynne Boles, whose reelection efforts were already being hampered by publicity over two suits filed against her this year.

Boles at first denied knowledge of any other suits, even though her wages were still being garnished as recently as two years ago from one suit. But she then recalled the suits, although not in detail, after being given specifics of the newly discovered litigation.

Court records show creditors sued Boles in 2006, 2010 and 2011.

In the first two cases, the court garnished her wages from her former employer, the Jackson Intermediate School District, and the city. In the third case, filed in 2006, an unspecified lien was issued — most likely against property she owned.

The records reveal she was sued in 2006 by Bloomfield Financial for $1,105.24. When she did not respond, a default judgment was entered against her. A lien was issued in that case, as well as garnishment of her state of Michigan income tax return.

In 2009, Jackson Cardiology Associates sued Boles for $1,626.36, In that case, after she failed to fulfill a payment plan, her wages at the Jackson Intermediate School District were garnished. The case was closed in June 2010 as having been satisfied.

And finally, in 2011, she was sued by Sparrow Hospital for $3,085.08. In that case her wages at both Jackson Intermediate and Lansing City Council were garnished. The file was closed in June 2013 as satisfied.

Boles was asked about the suits on Thursday on the TV show “City Pulse Newsmakers.” The show airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday on Lansing Comcast Channel 16 and at 10 a.m. Saturday on My18. It will also be available Friday after noon at www.lansingcitypulse.com.

The media have already reported on the two suits brought against her this year.

When reporter Todd Heywood asked her if there had been any credit-related suits against her, she said, “No, not that I know of.”

“So, you were not aware of a 2006 (Bloomfield) Financial lawsuit in 54A District Court, a lawsuit by Sparrow and a lawsuit by a Jackson cardiologist?” Heywood asked.

That seemed to jog her memory. “I am not,” she replied. “However, those were all on health issues.” She said her ex-husband died of kidney renal failure, and as a household he was on my insurance.”

She added: “if you want me to pay for the sins of my ex-husband, who also paid with his life, then we can continue to have this discussion."

Her ex-husband, Earl Robinson Jr., passed away in 2014. They had been divorced.

Robinson is not listed as a defendant in the lawsuits.

In March, Grabel and Associates Law filed a lawsuit against Boles alleging conversion. The suit alleges that Boles, who was working as a full-time independent contractor for the criminal defense firm, failed to document her work, converted the payments and acted in fraud. Conversion means taking money under false pretenses, while fraud is an allegation of creating a false pretense.

She would not comment on the case other to say that she looked forward to “justice being served.” That case is slated for trial in December.

In July, Boles was sued by Livoniabased Zeal Credit Union for $742.48. She said the charges were incurred by Robinson after they separated in April 2012. She denies being responsible.

She called the divorce from Robinson “extremely messy” and alleged he “decide[d] to drain bank accounts and forge checks.”

In the end, she said, the credit troubles and lawsuits are “being taken care of.”

“It doesn’t make me perfect,” she said, “but doggone it, it doesn’t make me the person some of the articles that have been printed paint me to be.”

Boles said the financial struggles have not impacted her work on the Council.

Challenger Adam Hussain said he does believe her financial problems have influenced her decision on the Council. He cited a vote earlier this year on whether to reject a 20 percent pay raise as evidence. Hussain said he heard constituents “unanimously” telling Boles to vote ‘no’ on the pay raise. She ended up supporting it.

“Because of her financial troubles, she can no longer exercise the will of the Third Ward constituents,” Hussain said. He said he’d donate the raise if elected. Earlier this year, Boles said she had not decided what to do with her raise, but indicated she was leaning toward donating it to charity. She did not return a call seeking clarification.

Boles has also had problems with campaign finance reports. In her July preprimary report Boles reported spending $3,795.73 leading up to the August primary, $500 of which — or just over 13 percent — was in late filing fees to the county clerk. Those reports are on file with Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum.

Byrum said Boles’ campaign fines were the result of failing to file reports on time, which she said is unusual for candidates.

“It’s not normal to have campaign fines,” Byrum said. “And it’s not normal to pay such a high percentage of funds received in campaign fines.”

Asked whether voters should take her financial issues into account, Boles said, “Voters have to vote their conscience.”