HOLLY — Community volunteers have organized a series of adult education classes following the circulation of a civil lawsuit involving Village President April Brandon and former DDA Chairperson Linda Stouffer, after determining residents lack the accounting and legal background necessary to form an opinion.
The complaint, which involves a $75,000 certificate of deposit, an allegedly incorrect tax identification number, and subsequent claims of defamation, has introduced several unfamiliar concepts into Holly’s daily Facebook discussions.
The six-week program will begin with introductory courses in IRS Form W-9, employer identification numbers, and the differences between a Downtown Development Authority and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Advanced sessions will cover municipal appointment procedures, Michigan defamation law, false light invasion of privacy, and the proper use of the phrase “actual malice.”
“I just wanted to know whose side I was on,” said one resident, who has since purchased a three-ring binder and registered for two evening classes. “Now I’m studying tort law with a woman from my neighborhood.”
Organizers say the curriculum is designed to give participants enough foundational knowledge to discuss the complaint without accidentally accusing someone of a second, unrelated offense. Students will complete a practical examination in which they must identify the difference between an approved financial transaction, an administrative error, and an allegation of misconduct.
Enrollment remains open, although the introductory course has already fallen behind schedule after participants spent the first 90 minutes debating whether the DDA and Holly Mainstreet were the same organization.
Graduates will receive a certificate acknowledging that they have read and understood the complaint in its entirety, qualifying them to return to Facebook and disagree with people who have not.