A courthouse auction in Columbia County had 1,300 acres up for sale with the going price of $1 million.

The auction is yet another legal step in a year of three separate lawsuits and three separate judgments against Frank Steedley, a Fort White landowner. The first lawsuit stemmed from an overtime pay issue, the following two lawsuits the result of attorneys who prevailed in a defamation action.

Combined, all the judgments topped $10 million. A judge ordered the property sold to satisfy the judgments.

Steedley says he stands for private property rights. He explained that the property sold is not his, but belongs to a trust that has a wildlife refuge.

Steedley believes he was denied due process. When asked about the judgments against him, Steedley said, “Those people who came out against me have done everything in their power to destroy me. ‘Why is that you think?’ Because I stood up against the system.”

The highest bidders for the property were the three attorneys who were owed $10 million. They declined comment referring questions to their attorney, David Robertson. Robertson says his clients really feel bad everything escalated to this point.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Department could not provide a timeline on when property ownership will transfer.

Posted: 06|24|06 at 8:32 am. Filed under: Property News.