Update: June 15 at 7 p.m.
State Rep. Adrielle Camuel, who also serves as an administrative support professional for Fayette County Public Schools, says she found a printed email slid under her office door on May 20 that appeared to be from a Louisville attorney advising Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins on a potential defamation lawsuit.
The email appeared to be from attorney Heather Gatnarek and read, in part:
"My legal team and I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and have formally begun personal and professional representation regarding the escalating pattern of defamatory statements, false accusations, and damaging communications that have been made publicly against you..."
Camuel shared the letter with her attorney, Hannah Wilson, who immediately saw red flags.
"At first glance, it didn't look like anything an attorney would put together, just knowing how attorneys write. The way it was drafted and constructed was a red flag. Then we noticed that the email for the attorney whose name Liggins forged, was different from the email on that attorney's public firm website," Wilson said.
The law firm Kaplan, Johnson, Abate and Bird confirmed the document was not legitimate, stating: "Heather Gatnarek did not author the email included in the stories, nor did any other attorney at this Firm. The Firm has never represented or offered any advice to Dr. Liggins."
Wilson believes the document was meant to silence Camuel and claims security footage shows Liggins delivering it.
"This was not real communication, it was not a real attorney client privilege communication, it was a threat," Wilson said, adding, "It's no secret that she's been very vocal about what's going on with FCPS with their financial situation and also the failures of leadership to address that situation effectively," Wilson said.
Camuel reported the alleged threatening email to the district on June 5. Days later, Liggins emailed Board Chair Tyler Murphy saying it was time to step away and pursue a separation agreement. Instead, the board voted to keep him on paid administrative leave pending review of his employment.
Liggins' attorney, C. Ed Massey, responded to the claims Monday afternoon.
"I have spoken with Dr. Liggins. He completely denies the letter was fabricated by him. Additionally he indicated the video where he appears to slip a paper under the door is unrelated to the so called fabricated document. At this time Dr. Liggins has no access to his email or documents that are in the control and possession of the Fayette County School Board. We are fully cooperating with District Counsel and will cooperate with any investigation. The letter could have been fabricated by anyone given the tensions in the district. I have advised my client to follow the process and we will continue to communicate with Counsel in an attempt to bring this matter to quick resolution," Massey said.
Original Story:
A printed email Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins allegedly slipped under the office doors of a reportedly Kentucky Representative and a FCPS employee last month - claiming to be from a law firm threatening a defamation lawsuit - was false, according to the law firm named in the document.
In an email thread LEX News obtained, Heather Gatnarek, a lawyer with Kaplan, Johnson Abate and Bird, appears to state that the law firm met with Liggins and will be representing him in a defamation lawsuit.
The document provided to LEX News states, "My legal team and I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and have formally begun personal and professional representation regarding the escalating pattern of defamatory statements, false accusations, and damaging communications that have been made publicly against you... Our office has already begun an extensive review and preservation of evidence related to the numerous defamatory statements made concerning you. Although you provided our office with specific names, entities, social media accounts, and other information, our investigation thus far has already uncovered additional individuals, groups, posts, communication, and coordinated activity beyond those initially identified."
This email, dated May 19, was allegedly printed out by Liggins, who reportedly slipped it under the office doors of Rep. Adrielle Camuel, a FCPS administrative assistant and state representative.
However, on Saturday, Kaplan, Johnson Abate and Bird reported to the Lexington Herald Leader that the alleged email was not from the law firm, and that it had never worked with Liggins.
Camuel reported the email to the district on June 5, five days before the FCPS School Board unanimously voted to place Liggins on paid administrative leave, electing Dr. Bill Bradford to step in as interim superintendent immediately.
LEX News reached out to Camuel's attorney, Hannah Wilson with Adams Landenwich & Lay Law Office, who claimed that Liggins slipped the email under Camuel's door as "a threat."
In an email, Wilson said, "The document that Dr. Liggins slipped under my client's door was a threat of a lawsuit, caged in a forged email purporting to be from a law firm here in Louisville to Dr. Liggins... I'm not sure how that email can be read as anything but what it is. It is an attempt to stop Rep. Camuel from making statements about Dr. Liggins' leadership in the midst of the District's financial crisis. It is no secret that, in accordance with her duties to her constituents, she has been quite vocal about the mismanagement of District funds and the failure of central office leadership to effectively address the problem. Including in the days leading up to the email's surreptitious delivery. What else could it be?"
Liggins has been with the school district since June 2021, when he was appointed after a five-month search on a four-year contract with a base pay salary of $275,000. In January 2025, Liggins was appointed by the board for another four-year contract, extending his tenure through summer 2029.
Covering Kentucky
A timeline of Superintendent Demetrus Liggins' time at Fayette County Schools
Just four months later, in May 2025, the public would learn of a $16 million budget shortfall the school district would be facing in the 2025-2026 school year.
On Saturday, Kentucky educator labor union 120 United-AFT released a public statement regarding the ongoing situation, stating Camuel was a member of the union.
"We are disgusted by how our union sister, colleague, friend, and State Representative, Adrielle Camuel, has been treated by district administration. These things never happen in a vacuum. People knew, and either participated, or looked away. What a shameful, shameful way to earn a check. Board Chair Murphy and Vice Chair Green should resign. Today. Together, our members are strong and refuse to be silenced. The truth always comes to light. KY 120 AFT stands United with Adrielle."
-KY 120 United-AFT, Fayette County
LEX News has also contacted Liggins' attorney, C. Ed Massey, and Kaplan, Johnson Abate and Bird for comment or further information.
This is an ongoing story, and LEX News will provide more information as it becomes available.
