Less than a year ago, Circuit Court Judge Fred Bolling recused himself from a lawsuit at the request of the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB), after lawyers for the utility questioned his ability to be impartial.
“The presence of a strained or adversarial attorney-client relationship creates an unacceptable risk of perceived bias,” Mark Parnell, a lawyer still representing Central Alabama Water, wrote in a 2025 filing. “Given the legal precedent, the undisputed prior relationship between your honor and the defendant, and the apparent personal tensions reflected in the written communications, it is clear that recusal is necessary.”
This week, Bolling ruled against Central Alabama Water, formerly the BWWB, issuing an order that would cost the utility millions beyond the budget they just passed last week and would likely lead to rate increases for all customers.
The filing cited an email from Parnell, discontinuing the services of Bolling’s firm and the BWWB, and requesting that Bolling hand over documents and send his final invoice.
Bolling’s response to Parnell was direct and harsh, telling Parnell to never contact him again and accusing him of inappropriate “underhanded maneuverings,” saying, “You are not representing anyone but your own greed and I pray that karma and justice finds it(s) way to your doorstep.”
In his filing this week ordering Central Alabama Water to resume fluoride operations across its entire system, Bolling specifically targeted the utility’s legal team, which he used to be a part of.
“However, if costs would be a factor that the Court could consider, the Court would eagerly await what argument could be made concerning costs, that would justify placing public health at risk, while administrative salaries continue to balloon, front-line workers have been terminated by the hundreds, and salaries for legal services have for years been inflated, to include months when legal services billing has exceeded $100,000.00 or more per month.”
Central Alabama Water did not respond to a request for comment.
Original article online at: https://1819news.com/news/item/judge-in-central-alabama-water-case-once-prayed-karma-and-justice-find-utility-lawyers-after-terminating-his-contract