Butler & Rattray Cases - court on May 5

What's cooking with the cases filed by Vernell Butler and Michele Rattray against four residents of The Summit's HOA, who also happen to be the board members elected on November 18, 2025.

Rattray's case (2026CV4010900304) is virtually identical to Butler's case (2025CV4010405381). 

The four residents are Brenda Bryant, Thomas (Jeff) Lummel, Linda Potter, and Angelo Turley-Moore.

Butler and Rattray filed their cases pro se. This means they did not have their own lawyers file the cases.

The four residents, who are listed in the litigations as individuals, are represented by an attorney for the insurance company of the HOA. They have a first-class attorney who will give them a strong and proper defense.

The Defendants' attorney filed a motion to move Rattray's case from the Pontiac Magistrate Court to the Blythewood Magistrate Court. The cases will now both be heard in the Blythewood Magistrate Court on May 5, 2026 at 9:00AM.

Butler and Rattray, in their separate cases, each seek $7,500, which is the limit for a Magistrate's Court. In my opinion (and I have recent court experience), there are many holes in the cases of Butler and Rattray. I anticipate that each will lose and that each will be assessed court costs and legal fees incurred by the Defendants.

When you read the allegations of Butler and Rattray, it's easy to see that they accused the wrong people. Jeff and Angelo weren't even on the board. Brenda and Linda were on the board but had nothing to do with the election of directors in November 2025. Danny Trapp was Board President then, and Tanisha Holmes was the Board Vice-President and chair of the Nominating Committee. 

Why didn't Butler and Rattray sue Danny and Tanisha?

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