Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and his Deputy Legal AdvisorCarrie McCollum have been added as defendants in a federal lawsuitfiled by Alabama One Credit Union.

According to court documents filed Wednesday, Alabama One suedBentley and McCollum, alleging a statewide conspiracy, due processviolations and defamation charges.

“The lawsuit alleges that public officials, enabled by thepersonal and direct participation of Gov. Bentley, conspired toattempt to coerce tens of millions of dollars in legal settlementsfrom the credit union through improper and unwarranted regulatorysanctions after it received clean bills of health from state andfederal regulators,” read a Wednesday release from the creditunion.

The ACUA scheduled a board meeting for Thursday at 9:30 a.m.CST, but did not disclose whether Alabama One is on the agenda.However, Jeven Sloan, an attorney for Alabama One, said the creditunion expects to be addressed during the meeting. According to itswebsite, the ACUA board met in a special meeting Aug. 12 toconsider an appeal from Alabama One.

The $598 million, Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based credit union filed thelawsuit two months ago following years of regulatory inspections,allegations of fraud and lawsuits. President/CEO John Dee Carruthsaid he has proof of a state government conspiracy against him,several of his colleagues and his financial institution, in theform of dozens of emails, depositions and other documents he sharedwith CU Times.

Alabama One alleged secret meetings occurred at the governor'soffice and with his knowledge and permission, but didn't name himin the lawsuit initially.

“We named the defendants in this lawsuit based on ourunderstanding of who the key actors were with regard to thespecific communications and conduct we alleged,” Sloan previouslytold CU Times. “There is no doubt that the evidenceon which we based our allegations indicates that meetings betweencertain of these defendants and a great deal of the improperconduct we have alleged emanated from the governor's office at thestate Capitol and that the governor personally attended one or moreof these meetings. We are committed to vigorously prosecuting thislawsuit and, if we later determine there are other parties whoshould be joined as defendants, we will not hesitate in adding themto this lawsuit. In the end, our singular goal is to bringjustice to Alabama One Credit Union and Mr. Carruth and to hold allculpable parties accountable.”

Bentley did not return calls asking for comment on theallegations.

The suit was filed following “threats that the Alabama CreditUnion Administration, which was allegedly being used as 'weapon ofdestruction,' would place Alabama One in conservatorship – theagency's harshest sanction,” the release said. “Alabama One and Mr.Carruth filed the lawsuit to seek recovery for the injuries theyhave suffered as a result of the alleged sustained and relentlesscampaign of regulatory and governmental overreach to push anongovernmental agenda.”

Defendants now include Bentley, the Governor's Chief LegalAdvisor David Byrne, McCollum, State Sen. Gerald H. Allen(R-Tuscalossa), Alabama Credit Union Administration Administrator Sarah Moore,member plaintiff attorney Justice “Jay” Smyth III, attorney AlbertG. Lewis III, former ACUA Administrator Larry Morgan, formerAlabama One employee Lori Ramos Baird and attorney BobbyCockrell.

So far, Moore, Byrne and Key have filed motions to dismiss the suits against them. Alabama Onehas until Thursday to show cause as to why its complaint should notbe dismissed.