Anderson settles lawsuit by workers fired by mayor in 2012
ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) – The city of Anderson and eight former employees have reached a settlement over their firings in 2012.
The Herald Bulletin reports that an $852,000 jury award will be trimmed to $682,000 after negotiations. The deal would end Anderson’s appeal of the verdict.
The eight former employees said they were illegally dismissed by then-Mayor Kevin Smith’s administration because they supported his Democratic opponent in the 2011 election. The city said they were non-union workers with no job protections.
The settlement will likely be paid through a combination of tax dollars and insurance. The Herald Bulletin says Tim Stires would get the most, $181,000. He was rehired by the current mayor, Tom Broderick.
Smith lost his bid for re-election in 2015.