Judge rules against Appiah’s request for temporary injunction in Gainesville city commission race

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Today Judge Monica Brasington issued a ruling that denied Tayari “Tigh” Appiah’s motion for a temporary injunction after he was denied entry to City Hall on the last morning of qualification for a Gainesville City Commission seat.

In the ruling, the judge wrote that the plaintiff (Appiah) had failed to show evidence of irreparable harm “because there was no evidence presented to suggest that, even if the security guard had admitted Plaintiff, that he was otherwise qualified and eligible to run in this race and to be listed on the ballot.” The ruling continued: “To the extent that he was eligible and thus harmed irreparably by the inability to seek to qualify to be placed on the ballot, such harm is, in large part, attributable to his own failure to call the Clerk at the telephone number listed on the website and posted signs, his failure to email the Clerk at the email address listed on the website and posted signs, and his failure to submit any qualifying documents, prior to or after the Qualifying period deadline… Under these circumstances, the Court cannot find that he made a diligent bona fide effort.”

Appiah’s attorney Raemi Eagle-Glenn issued a statement: “The case of Tigh Appiah moves forward. We appeal Judge Brasington’s order that refused Tigh’s right to qualify. Two other issues in the case will proceed towards a jury trial: the unconstitutional city ordinance and the negligence of the private security company hired by the city.”