In the case of Helen’s Professional Removal Service vs Sumter County Georgia, Sumter County has been ordered to pay $9,095 to Helen’s Removal Service.

According to the court document, the controversy began when the County ceased paying Helen’s Removal Service over fears of a conflict of interest when it was discovered that Helen Walton, wife of Coroner Walton, was being paid to transport bodies to the Georgia Crime Laboratory.

County attorney Hayden Hooks sent a letter to Walton referencing several State laws and County policies. The letter also stated that “use of your wife’s transportation service likely breaches your duties as an elected official.”

However, the County did not file criminal charges against Walton, and instead stopped payments to Helen’s Removal Service. James Thurman, the magistrate that presided over the case writes that “if the County had wished to punish Helen’s or the Coroner’s Office, for ethical improprieties they (County) could have turned this issue over to law enforcement or the Georgia Ethics Commission.”

Thurman did not approve of the arrangement with Helen’s removal service, stating that “the practice of using one’s immediate family to preform services for an elected official, smells of impropriety on its face.”

Thurman also noted the price. “The last invoice submitted by Helen’s on May 10, 2023 was for a transport to and from Macon in the amount of four hundred and fifty dollars ($450.00). Invoices for the same service on April 16, 2021 were billed at four hundred dollars “$400.00”. This shows a significant price increase in light of the current transport company’s price of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) for the same service.”

However, the Court still sided with Helen’s removal service, reaching a judgement in their favor. “The Court finds the County’s practice of refusing to pay for a necessary performed service unconscionable. By the same standard the Court finds Plaintiff’s price increase in the midst of this dispute, just as distasteful. Two wrongs do not make a right therefore, the Court finds in favor of Plaintiff in the amount of $9,000.00 principal and court cost of $95.00.” The order was given April 30, 2024.