Judge rejects Ferdinand’s bid to dismiss lawsuit

A Fulton County judge has rejected Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand’s request to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses him of abusing his authority.

In the lawsuit, County Commissioner Liz Hausmann says Ferdinand last year revoked the registration of a vehicle she owned because she questioned his use of a county take-home vehicle. Ferdinand has denied the allegations and said Hausmann had not provided adequate proof of residence to register the vehicle.

Superior Court Judge Kelly Lee recently ordered the case to mediation. But the mediation failed, and on Thursday Lee rejected Ferdinand’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. Ferdinand’s attorney, Randy Turner, has said he will appeal that decision.