A federal appeals court is set to consider a lawsuit that claims that a former Forsyth County sheriff used his office to harass and intimidate them after they supported a referendum that would have reduced the office's powers.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday is set to consider the lawsuit by Danny Bennett and Danny Reid, who claim they were targeted by ex-Sheriff Dennis Lee Hendrix after they supported a 1998 proposal to create a countywide police force.

A jury sided with the two, awarding Bennett $3.6 million and Reid $3.1 million after Hendrix posted flyers that called the two men "convicted criminals" who terrorized the county.

Hendrix appealed the jury's decision. He says the two men don't have enough evidence to back up their claims.