A Black Henry County, Georgia, homeowner, Akira Eiland, who is fighting a legal battle for effective control over her own property, has gained the support of the Henry County NAACP. Instead of protecting Eiland’s lawful property rights, the Georgia Supreme Court is permitting Andrew Jackson Welch Jr., a well-known caucasian judge and lawyer, to unlawfully control her real estate, denying her access to a lake located in her own backyard. In addition, all of the lakeside property owners lost access to their lakeside property. Ninety-eight percent of the homeowners are African American.
Eiland has blatantly been denied her basic rights under the law due to the Georgia Supreme Court support of Welch’s law firm to disregard “conflicts of interest” laws applicable to all other lawyers and law firms. Despite the evidence showing that the lake is common property of the community, political power and judicial influence are not allowing fair, rational decisions to be reached. Because of this, the Henry County NAACP calls upon the Georgia Supreme Court to grant the pending petition for certiorari to prevent discrimination and promote due process for all Georgia citizens. The Henry County NAACP also calls upon the Georgia Supreme Court in conjunction with the community at large to investigate the extent of such discriminatory practices so that the property rights of Blacks are equally protected in Georgia. All media supporters are encouraged to spread awareness about this issue to prevent others from experiencing the same injustice.
It is undisputed that Eiland purchased her property based upon the final plat which showed the lake. A true and accurate copy of the warranty deed has been presented, yet ignored, as evidence in this case. Welch Jr. used his law firm’s representation of David M. Curry’s Henry County’s Tax Commissioner’s office to wrongfully and unlawfully take Eiland’s property rights and easement in Waterford Pointe Lake by depriving her of the statutory notice required for the tax sale. The lake has not only been taken from Eiland but also the residents of Waterford Pointe Homeowner’s Association.
In addition to stopping the discrimination in this case, the NAACP is calling for a full internal investigation to determine the scope of the discrimination. The case is currently being reviewed by the Georgia Court of Appeals. A fair decision, with all facts being taken into consideration, is being encouraged by Eiland’s legal team, Alexander Law Firm P.C.
