UPDATE- Defendent files to drop: Moore County Clerk of Court, Maness, files lawsuit

Moore County Clerk of Court Todd Maness filed a civil lawsuit Jan. 29, alleging District Court Judge Donna Elizabeth Tanner and clerk candidate Deborah Anne J. Duerring, who is running against Maness, of defamation.

Maness claims the two made false statements, harming his professional reputation.

According to the complaint, Maness claims Tanner accused him of failing to perform his statutory duties, and she acted outside her judicial authority to try to have him held in contempt.

Maness alleges those claims were later found to be false following an investigation by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Michael A. Stone.

The lawsuit further alleges Duerring repeated Tanner’s false claims during a public candidates’ forum.

Maness wants compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $25,000, along with attorney fees and a jury trial.

Sandhills News reached out to the plaintiff and defendants for statements and if they respond, will update this article.

Read Maness’ lawsuit in full here.

UPDATE: On Jan. 30, Tanner filed a motion to dismiss Maness’ lawsuit, arguing the case is flawed, without factual evidence and incorrectly motivated.

The motion reads that Maness recycled claims from a similar lawsuit he dropped and refiled too late under state law. It argues the judge’s statements were internal, privileged communications about court administration, not defamatory accusations, and that Maness did not show malice.

“Reasonable inquiry before filing the Complaint would have revealed that: (a) Defendant Tanner’s communications to Judge Stone were inquiries and expressions of concern, not accusations,” reads Tanner’s motion on page five about the texted phone images within Maness’ lawsuit.

The motion claims Maness’ lawsuit was filed to gain political advantage during the election. Tanner wants the court to dismiss the case and impose sanctions, including attorney fees, for filing a frivolous lawsuit.

Read Tanner’s motion here.

Neither case mentions the underlying dynamics when Maness entered his position as the clerk of court after a popular clerk left and so did supporting staff, leaving a skeleton crew as Maness’ support. Judge Webb had appointed temporary coverage, Deborah Anne J. Duerring, who quit early, and when Maness’ wife died only days later, Duerring filed for office to run against him.

Maness’ lawsuit reads that Judge Stone investigated Tanner’s claims and consulted with the Moore County Commissioners on whether Maness had completed his job by creating the Jury Commission and concluded “Judge Tanner’s allegations were completely false and without any merit,” on page four of Maness’ lawsuit.

Jan. 30 and updated on the 31, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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