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Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday canceled a scheduled meeting concerning the lawsuit filed against the county by former Museum Director Stacey McLaughlin.
The meeting was canceled after the two sides failed to agree to a settlement of the lawsuit which seeks an unspecified amount of money. McLaughlin claims she was improperly discharged and that commissioners retaliated against her after she stood up for her rights.
For the past three weeks, Nena Cook, the county's attorney, has spoken with Martha Walters, who represents McLaughlin, in an attempt to settle out of court. That action was taken after Commissioner Dan Van Slyke, who was defeated in his re-election bid last month, asked Cook to try and arrange a settlement before he leaves office at the end of December.
Van Slyke, who has maintained that neither he nor his two colleagues did anything improper, said Wednesday the case had reached a point where it seemed the county might spend more money in defending the lawsuit than if they settled before it went to trial.
"You don't want to be in a situation where you're rewarding bad behavior, but you don't want to throw good money after bad," Van Slyke said Wednesday by telephone from Dallas, where he was helping his daughter's family move from the East Coast.
Commissioner Doug Robertson declined to comment on the lawsuit or any ongoing negotiations. Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that Van Slyke and Kittelman could be held personally responsible if they damaged McLaughlin through actions that went beyond the scope of their jobs. They will likely have to retain personal attorneys to defend themselves against those claims, although Cook would still defend them and the county against any other claims.
Walters has not said whether her client would accept a settlement or whether she continues to want to press her claim in court.
* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
The meeting was canceled after the two sides failed to agree to a settlement of the lawsuit which seeks an unspecified amount of money. McLaughlin claims she was improperly discharged and that commissioners retaliated against her after she stood up for her rights.
For the past three weeks, Nena Cook, the county's attorney, has spoken with Martha Walters, who represents McLaughlin, in an attempt to settle out of court. That action was taken after Commissioner Dan Van Slyke, who was defeated in his re-election bid last month, asked Cook to try and arrange a settlement before he leaves office at the end of December.
Van Slyke, who has maintained that neither he nor his two colleagues did anything improper, said Wednesday the case had reached a point where it seemed the county might spend more money in defending the lawsuit than if they settled before it went to trial.
"You don't want to be in a situation where you're rewarding bad behavior, but you don't want to throw good money after bad," Van Slyke said Wednesday by telephone from Dallas, where he was helping his daughter's family move from the East Coast.
Commissioner Doug Robertson declined to comment on the lawsuit or any ongoing negotiations. Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that Van Slyke and Kittelman could be held personally responsible if they damaged McLaughlin through actions that went beyond the scope of their jobs. They will likely have to retain personal attorneys to defend themselves against those claims, although Cook would still defend them and the county against any other claims.
Walters has not said whether her client would accept a settlement or whether she continues to want to press her claim in court.
* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
