Nearly a year later, there is still no resolution to a federal case involving the "S-Town" podcast and the estate of its deceased subject.

In July 2018, the administrator of John B. McLemore’s estate sued the makers of "S-Town," a podcast that focused on the late Woodstock resident’s life. The estate claimed the podcast released intimate details of McLemore's personal life without his permission.

Craig Cargile, the administrator of McLemore’s estate who was recently elected as a district judge in Bibb County, filed the lawsuit against the creators of "S-Town," which debuted in March 2017 and chronicled McLemore’s life, as well as his hometown of Woodstock. As part of his suit, Cargile asked that McLemore’s estate receive any profits from the podcast, which has been downloaded nearly 100 million times in the last two years.

However, the case against "S-Town" has been inactive over the last few months and no decision has been made yet by U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler as to whether the podcast invaded McLemore’s personal life or if the show did its due diligence. The last motion made in the case was September 2018.

"I’m not authorized to give any statement, but all I can tell you is we are awaiting a judge’s decision," said Evans Bailey, an attorney representing the "S-Town" team.

The lawsuit contended that Brian Reed, the creator of "S-Town" who first began corresponding with McLemore in 2012, has profited from McLemore, who killed himself in 2015.

"McLemore never gave consent to Reed or the other defendants to use his indicia of identity for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products, goods, merchandise or services," the initial complaint read. "Additionally, McLemore never gave consent to Reed or the other defendants to broadcast the intimate details of his sexual orientation, and experiences, depressed thoughts, suicidal tendencies financial affairs, physical and mental health issues and his interpersonal relationships with friends, family members and sexual partners."

Cargile and his attorneys have also referred to the Alabama Right of Publicity Act, which states that an individual’s likeness or story cannot be used to make money without said person’s permission.

However, attorneys representing "S-Town" have maintained that the show is protected under the First Amendment and that as a work of public interest journalism, it was exempt from the Alabama Right of Publicity Act.

"The creation and distribution of S-Town is exactly the type of constitutionally-protected speech the Alabama legislature took great pains to exclude from liability under the Act," the August response stated.

The last action in the case was on Sept. 18, 2018, a motion to dismiss the case from the "S-Town" team.

"Mr. Cargile may not care for the themes explored in ‘S-Town,’ but that does not make it actionable under Alabama law or the First Amendment," the response read.

There has been no indication on when Coogler will make a decision on the matter. Attempts to reach other attorneys representing both Cargile and "S-Town" were unsuccessful Monday.

Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.