July 31, 2025

Judge Allows Expansion of Loveless Defamation Lawsuit

News Summary

A judge has allowed Ken Loveless to expand his defamation lawsuit to include more former school board members and a current member in Lexington-Richland 5. Loveless alleges a conspiracy to defame him, adding new accusations against current board member Kevin Scully. The case highlights ongoing tensions within the school board as Loveless faces scrutiny over past accusations and attempts to revive his political career.

Lexington-Richland 5, SC – A judge has permitted Ken Loveless, a former member of the Lexington-Richland 5 school board, to expand his defamation lawsuit to include several former board members and a current member. This decision was made by Judge Charles McCutchen, who ruled that Loveless can move forward against former board members Beth Hutchison and Ed White, former school board attorney Michael Montgomery, and White’s wife, Bea White. Additionally, Loveless can also amend the lawsuit to include current board member Kevin Scully, presenting new allegations of coordinated efforts to defame him.

Loveless originally filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging a conspiracy led by Hutchison, Montgomery, White, and former board member Michael Cates to defame him and infringe upon his free speech rights. The amended lawsuit now also targets Scully, who Loveless claims violated South Carolina’s open meetings laws by taking a controversial photograph of him and three other board members at a Waffle House in 2021, which Hutchison subsequently shared online.

In his lawsuit, Loveless argued that he was merely sharing photos of his grandchild at the time of the Waffle House incident and insisted that he and his colleagues did not commit any wrongdoing. He further accuses Scully of colluding with Hutchison and White to release a press statement concerning ethics accusations made against him in 2020, using his government email while employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

During a hearing on May 19, Loveless’ attorney, Desa Ballard, introduced new evidence suggesting ongoing conspiratorial efforts against Loveless, which now involve Scully. Defense attorney Gene Matthews contended that the relevant allegations originated back in 2020 and therefore fall outside the statute of limitations for legal action. However, Ballard defended the position that the conspiracy was still active and that the actions by the defendants extended beyond their capacities on the school board.

Judge McCutchen determined that Loveless had met the necessary burden of proof to add new defendants, and he indicated that the statute of limitations issues would be addressed as the case progresses.

Loveless has faced scrutiny over charges of violating the South Carolina Ethics Act due to accusations made by Hutchison and White related to a questionable connection with a construction firm linked to a new elementary school project. As a consequence, Loveless was fined more than $6,000 by the South Carolina Ethics Commission, which upheld the ruling in March after he appealed.

Earlier in the legal proceedings, a federal conspiracy lawsuit filed by Loveless was dismissed when the judge found that he failed to establish that any actual harm had been inflicted by the defendants. Loveless initially sued Scully in 2022 for defamation based on social media comments where Scully referred to him as “Crooked Ken” and “a loser.”

The ongoing legal challenges add complication to Loveless’s political career. After narrowly losing the school board election in 2022, he made an unsuccessful attempt to regain a seat in the 2024 election.

The expanded lawsuit emphasizes the ongoing tensions within the Lexington-Richland 5 school board and highlights the legal intricacies involved in determining accountability for public officials’ actions. As the case moves forward, the implications of these developments may significantly affect the dynamics within the school board and the broader community.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Major Verdict Against MyPillow CEO for Defamation
School Board Member Sues District Over Edited Security Footage
School Board Member Sues District Over Altered Footage Claims
Greenpeace Faces $667 Million Defamation Ruling
The Tate Brothers Land in Florida Amid Legal Controversy
New Town Hall Planned in Irmo, South Carolina
Appeals Court Revisits Defamation Case of Ex-School Board Member
Ken Loveless Challenges $6,000 Ethics Fine in South Carolina
Fox Corporation Faces $2.7 Billion Lawsuit from Smartmatic
Conway’s Former Senate Candidate Ordered to Pay $76,000 in Frivolous Defamation Case

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER

The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.

ADD MORE INFORMATION OR CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ARTICLE CLICK HERE!

STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER

Stay Connected

More Updates

Winter morning in Lexington SC with clear skies

Would You Like To Add Your Business?

Submit