After a long absence, actor Andy Griffith is donning his sheriff's uniform a final time to bring to justice a man who, according to Griffith, has stolen something very dear to him: his name.
Griffith is suing a Grant County man who legally changed his name to Andrew Jackson Griffith in a failed bid for Grant County sheriff. The 80-year-old Griffith is best known for playing sheriff Andy Griffith on the Andy Griffith Show.
Griffith's suit, filed in Madison, alleges the name change was a violation of privacy and copyright laws.
Griffith wants the man to change his name back to William Harold Fenrick and publish apologies in Grant County newspapers.
The former Fenrick garnered 1,248 votes as an independent candidate, but lost to 10-year incumbent Sheriff Keith Govier, who won with 8,452 votes. Democratic candidate Doug Vesperman finished second with 6,983.
