Attalla Police Chief Joe Hereford, Deputy Chief Larry Howard and officers Teddie Cox, Myrna Baker, Steve Grant, Stephen Hill and Superintendent of Public Works Randall Wood v. Attalla Coalition, founder Harvey Martin and David Whitten, Peggy Whitten and Paulette Bowen

Attalla Police Chief Joe Hereford, Deputy Chief Larry Howard and officers Teddie Cox, Myrna Baker, Steve Grant, Stephen Hill and Superintendent of Public Works Randall Wood sued Attalla Coalition, founder Harvey Martin and David Whitten, Peggy Whitten and Paulette Bowen on a defamation theory claiming that a a 2004 videotape that included commentary about ballot shredding defamed them. The Sept. 14, 2004 tape, shot from outside a City Hall window, showed election officials handling and tabulating voting returns in the city clerk's office. It was distributed in the community and had commentary alleging wrongdoing.

Defendants asserted the truth of the commentary as a defense.