On April 9, an Arizona-based company called Golf Travel filed a $2.4 million federal suit against Joe Mullins, the Flagler County commissioner and owner of Mullins Sports and Entertainment in Augusta, Ga. The suit claims Mullins was liable for fraud, breach of contract and violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act known as RICO.
On May 21, Mullins responded to the claim through his attorney, denying the allegations and moving for a partial dismissal. The motion argues that the claim fails to state a fraud claim or that RICO was violated.
The lawsuit is similar to a federal lawsuit Mullins faced in 2013, and settled. Some of the lawyers on both sides of that lawsuit were identical: John T. Sparks Sr., who filed the suits, and Randolph Frails, who represented Mullins then and now. Other lawyers were also involved in the 2013 case. If the history of that lawsuit is any guide, the current lawsuit is only at the early stages of a multi-year wrangle, and may end with an out-of-court settlement.
The suit filed in April alleges that Mullins defrauded Golf Travel by selling it tickets to the Augusta National Masters tournament and its practice rounds in 2018 and 2019, tickets that were either invalid or never delivered. Many patrons holding such tickets were removed from the premises and humiliated, according to Golf Travel, while Golf Travel itself lost clients and was eventually ruined.
Listing defenses, Mullins’s answer to the suit argues that some or all of the claims are beyond statutes of limitation, that injuries suffered by Golf Travel were the result of its own “negligence,” and that Golf Travel’s “claims are barred by its failure to mitigate” the damages alleged.
The suit against Mullins had named him, his company and numerous “John Doe” individuals, but it does not clarify who those individuals were other than to claim that they “conspired together to defraud [Golf Travel] and acted as the agents of one another with the full knowledge and approval of the other Defendants.”
Mullins’s answer to the suit denies “that Joseph Mullins is the alter ego of Mullins Sports and Entertainment LLC or any other corporate entity,” or that the parties named in the suit “have been stubbornly litigious or acted in bad faith.” Of the more than 120 statements or allegations set forth by the suit, the response from Mullins’s attorney was to deny them or to claim insufficient information to either admit or deny them.
The answers largely follow the sort of answers provided in the 2013 lawsuit, though at the time there’d also been claims by the filer–Global Events Management Group–that Mullins and the named company at the time, Mullins Management Group, had been defaming and slanderous. Mullins’s answer at the time claimed such statements had been opinions.
The first lawsuit was filed in June 2013. If it’s in any way suggestive of how the current lawsuit’s path may go, the 2013 suit wasn’t settled until February 2017, after counterclaims were filed. Trial had been scheduled for that January, before an out-of-court settlement was reached as the two sides dismissed all claims against each other.
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ASF says
Mullins has a Personality Disorder so profound that he is incapable of learning from experience. He will simply move from place to place and pull the same scams over and over. The only thing that will ever mitigate the damage he routinely does is to rob him of any power he might have to fleece the general public for his own gain. The justice system is society’s only defense against destructive opportunists like Mullins.
Concerned Citizen says
It runs in the family, oldest brother Frank Mullins is the ring leader for con men. A known sociopath he screws his family out of every dime he can take, even his dead brother. https://wgac.com/episodes/austin-talks-about-the-burn-center-situation/
Korean vet says
This guy must go he is a dirty stain to our county …
Justus says
No surprise here. Mullins is a weird and nasty fellow who should never have been elected.
CB from PC says
Joe has been studying the Democrat Playbook: Deny Everything.
Not even newsworthy in the face of glaring illegalities within the Biden and Clinton Syndicates, which have been totally ignored, suppressed and sanctioned as BAU.
Steve says
Evidence would be good lets start there
Mike says
He has none. Observe CB’s other comments on this site. Just another uneducated blowhard Trumpeter.
yourfriendlyneighbor says
Oh that’s not from the Democrat playbook, that’s taken directly from the Qanon republican crazy gringrichized playbook which corrupt, lying Mullens, Trump, DeSantis and republicans in power in general follow. It’s time to bleach out the rotten rusty mold and start fresh and clean.
Ghandi says
Yeah by getting rid of both parties. I mean obviously the corruption is both sides or do you think democrats like Biden and Pelosi shit gold coins and speak the truth.
Steve says
Yeah sure right ahah If this guy told me the time of Day I would ask someone else just to make sure ZERO Credibility
Does anyone know? says
I agree with you 100% Steve. We can only hope in 2024 the voters will be a little wiser and get this clown out of public office. We can only hope he will go back where he came from. Can anyone even tell me if this guy has ever gained employment other than being a legend in his own mind?
There is a lot going on with the court docket right now with this case and his second pending divorce. Does anyone know if the financial affidavit in his divorce case here in Flagler County agrees with what he reported on his Form 6 filed with the Florida Commissio on Ethics?
Jimbo99 says
I guess we’ll see how this one plays out. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a long ride again.
flatsflyer says
Joe’s total defense is to deny the charges over 150 times. I think he needs to get a new Attorney. Sounds like Joe has run his business based on the Donald Trump model. Did Joe go to Trump University? Hopefully we can get of this stain on Flagler County.
Rich Santomassino says
It’s amazing to me this man is a member of our county commission. Do we as a community have nobody else willing to throw their hat in the ring? Our local government is representative of a town of 5000 not 115,000. I am expecting Sherriff Taylor and Barney Fife to show up at our next meeting
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Rich – you can check the Supervisor of Election website – someone has already filed to run for Joe’s seat next year….
Deborah Coffey says
Kind of makes one wonder just how many Donald Trump’s there are in this country…corrupt to the core and getting away with it for decades. A much larger concern is the number of Americans that keep voting for these people.
Inthenameofunity says
Too controversial to be on our Flagler County board of commissioners. Let’s vote him out first chance we get.
Mythoughts says
Trouble sure followers Mullin in every state he lives. Flagler County Commissioners allow this type of person in our government is an insult to Flagler County taxpayers.
Roy Longo says
Even though his two cronies on the board do nothing to curtail his antics, it’s the taxpayers who allow Mullins in our government. The taxpayers voted this man in office even though he had zero history with Flagler County. Unfortunately his opponent in that election, while seemingly a nice person, was running with an axe to grind with Coffey and Hadeed. We need a solid opponent to run against him. Strong roots in the community with nothing but the taxpayers in mind. All the taxpayers.
Tim Mcauliffe says
Mullins next stop, Cuba or Alabama?
Trailer Bob says
Not exactly the type of person who should be in politics. He really needs to go back to Georgia and stay there. We have had enough of the clown of the Republicans. Why the other put up with him…I can only guess.
Mike Cocchiola says
Mullins will settle the lawsuit before the ’22 election. He knows people have very short memories.
Good news… it’ll cost him some of his ill-earned money (remember his blatant effort to exclude Blacks from his rental properties) to fight this.
Bad news… given that he and his fellow trumplets have no discernable values other than common worship of the bigliest scammer of all, the lawsuit will not affect their vote.
Support81 says
Time will tell, let the court system work the solution! Palm Coast Taxpayers have many other important problems( uncontrolled growth, poor traffic control, roads that TOO narrow,etc) to correct!
Steve says
NO Mayor Or City Mgr
JustSaying says
Support81 says: This is a County-wide taxpayer problem, not just Palm Coast. I am a PC resident but let’s not just presume to be more important that those people in Bunnell, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach, and the unincorporated county areas who also pay taxes, especially the hefty ones beachside. Just saying …
Willy James says
Joe Mullins is a despicable boil that blights any creditability that the Flagler County government could hope to achieve. By now 2021, I believe most citizens have seen Joe for what he really is. I can only hope that this lawsuit filters over into a criminal prosecution under the RICO Act. Joe, it is obvious you have zero morals either in the business world or the conduct of your personal life. You’re really a little, little man with loyalty only to the dollar and the hell with anybody else! I hope the other two jackasses on the County Commission are generally stupid (Sullivan & O’Brien) but come to realize you are a phony and will throw them under the bus in a heartbeat.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Mullins vile contempt for anyone other than himself ( and whom he can ‘buy’ ) in my opinion, was well documented in the press in three states, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, on the internet, in the Georgia and Florida court public records years before he ran his scam campaign to lure the voters in Flagler County.
If everyone had done their homework prior to choosing him to represent us I doubt we would be stuck with the most disgraceful and most repugnant ( my opinion) public official ever to be seated in Flagler County.
However, what is most horrifying is the possibility that the same Flagler Rat Pack who adorned his candidacy in 2018 will glorify, support, help and endorse this arrogant, useless carpetbagger ( my opinion) by any means once again in 2022.
We can expect even more of the free barbeques, miles of paid sign waivers, elephant sized toothy smile postcards in our mailboxes every day and hourly radio promises.
Unless I missed anything I will be just one 19 year Flagler resident trying to unset Joe. I will keep plodding along and spending my time, as I have been doing for many years, trying to make Flagler a better place to live but who has no time for expensive fancy meals and fantasy shows.
At the end of the day the voters, once again, will decide if they want more of Joe or not
Astonished to be here says
Why does a guy who deals in counterfeit golf tournament tickets want to be county commissioner? Surely there is no corruption in Flagler county government.
Joesgottago says
Typical Republican- lie, gaslight everyone who has anything negative to say, lawyer up and blame everyone else.
Who elected this guy!?! Oh yeah, the other Republicans! What the heck has happened to this party?
The Mullins Report says
If Joey Mudlfaps says he didn’t do it, it must be a false accusation. eye roll emoji
Trailer Bob says
The truth is, most of us didn’t know that much about mullins (small “m” intended) when he first ran for this office.
He was a good liar and conman, so I get that. But IF he is to get re-elected, the public can only blame themselves, no longer mullins.
The most troubling part of this is that those other Republicans in office who seem to be afraid to school him will likely get re-elected in the next election.
Those other Republicans seem unable to see the damage being caused by numbnuts, and incapable of being leaders and working for the will of “We The People”.
And yes, I am a republican…a real republican. You know…those old concepts of honesty, integrity, minimal taxes required to run the county properly, tough on crime, pro-education, pro-small government, strong national defense, pro-first amendment, pro-second amendment, fiscal responsibility, etc.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Dear Trailer Bob, Mullins history of multiple civil monetary scam lawsuits, driver’s licenses concurrently in 3 states, his alleged racism, including testimony from former employees and his own relatives whom he paid to make contributions to his campaign. Many of the Augusta Georgia news articles about him prior to ‘arriving ‘ here are still online. The best one, written about 5 years ago is entitled ” Mullins carries more baggage than the Kardashians on a long vacation. It is very unfortunate that many savy people such as yourself never really looked beyond the fantasy shows.
Been There says
We knew he paid his own campaign, we knew he pulled this stunt with two other ticketing agencies, we knew he had a substance abuse issue, we knew he distributed inappropriate private photos of his ex-wife to friends and family, we know that the Observer showed us all his obvious misgivings in that rag and then ENDORSED him. We know that he was originally in the Milissa Holland camp and is still being protected by Cameron, O’Brien, Sullivan and now Andy Dance.
VOTER says
Why has the Governor not removed this man from his position as a County Commissioner? If he can’t be trusted, how can he be truested with our tax dollars? The Governor needs to be contacted by we the people, and it be reqeusted that that Mullins be suspended or removed from his elected position of County Commissioner of Flagler County, District 4 immediately. Come on people do your part, call or write to the Governor and demand that Mullins be removed or suspended from public office pending the outcome of this case, the outcome of any investigation(s), and because of all the other reasons he has been in the paper the past 3 years that have broken our trust.
Do you part! Call or send your letter today.
Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(850) 717-9337
LittleNYLittleNJ says
Why? Because they are all in the same room when it comes to corrupt politics and nastiness.