Roanoke Rapids Hires Law Firm to Look Into Parton Dispute
The Roanoke Rapids City Council held a closed-door meeting for over an hour Tuesday night to discuss Parton's contract and announced the hiring of an attorney to represent them in the dispute
Posted — UpdatedThe Roanoke Rapids City Council held a closed-door meeting for over an hour Tuesday night to discuss Parton's contract. When council members emerged, the only business they announced was the hiring of an attorney to represent the city in its dispute with Parton.
The action came the same day that Randy Parton's widely known sister, singer Dolly Parton, issued a statement supporting her brother.
Johnny Loper, an attorney with Womble Carlyle, said the city had hired his several days ago. Loper would not confirm whether the city wants him to tear up Parton's contract.
“I'm going to try to talk with my clients, gather the documents, review those, talk to my clients, probably talk to Mr. Parton's attorney, and we're going to try to come to a sane, rational decision,” Loper said.
City leaders were quiet after the meeting, but have previously said they want Parton gone. The new management company at the theater said it has been told to move forward without Parton in its plans.
“We have to at this point. That's the direction we've been given by the city,” said Jim Craig, an official with UGL Unico, the company the city hired to manage the theater after Parton was relieved of that duty.
The city borrowed $21.5 million to build the 1,500-seat theater as part of an entertainment hub off Interstate 95.
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