Special Master Resigns in Frisby Case

In the aftermath of public revelation that former Hinds County DA Ed Peters was advising a plaintiff behind the scenes in a case before Judge Bobby DeLaughter and that a special master had been removed by DeLaughter after Peters became involved (here), the replacement special master in that case (Eaton v. Frisby et al) has resigned. Jackson attorney Larry Latham, who had replaced Jack Dunbar, on Monday told Circuit Judge Swan Yerger that Peters had spoken with him about the appointment and that it was necessary for him to resign to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Peters and DeLaughter have not been charged. Patsy Brumfield’s Daily Journal story is here.

UPDATE: Jerry Mitchell’s Clarion-Ledger story here has more details: that Latham says he was unaware that Dunbar was serving as special master, that Peters’ call to him came four days before DeLaughter removed Dunbar, and that Peters asked him not to bring up his name. Mitchell also reports:

“In a motion filed Tuesday to protect potential evidence, Frisby’s attorneys said it’s obvious Peters and DeLaughter communicated privately because Peters knew about the plan to replace Dunbar - something they said Dunbar himself didn’t know.”