Kentucky County Attorney Settles Political Retaliation Suit

The Pulaski County Attorney and six former employees have settled a lawsuit alleging they were fired for supporting someone else for the job in the 2010 elections.

Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf, who represented the former employees, said his clients were pleased with the $500,000 settlement with county attorney Martin Hatfield.

Hatfield told the Commonwealth Journal in Somerset he did nothing wrong and that an insurance company agreed to a settlement over his objections.

The six former employees sued Hatfield claiming they were fired in late 2010 or early 2011 because they all actively campaigned for former county attorney Bill Thompson in the May 2010 election.

The six plaintiffs will receive over $83,000 each but will not be reinstated to their former jobs in the county attorney’s office.