The previous Douglas County undersheriff who sued then-Sheriff Tony Spurlock over office retaliation settled her lawsuit for $1.75 million on Thursday, in line with her attorneys and courtroom data.
Holly Kluth sued Spurlock and Douglas County in 2021 on the grounds that Spurlock demoted after which fired her in retaliation after she spoke out in opposition to his politics.
“Legislation enforcement officers like Ms. Kluth retain their First Modification rights to share their political beliefs and to run for workplace,” Kluth’s attorneys at Denver regulation agency Rathod Mohamedbhai wrote in a Friday information launch. “They have to be ready to take action with out concern of retaliation.”
Kluth labored on the sheriff’s workplace for 32 years, rising to the rank of undersheriff, earlier than Spurlock fired her in Might 2021.
After Kluth publicly distanced herself from Spurlock, he opened an inside affairs investigation into her and demoted her from undersheriff to captain in late 2020, lowering her annual wage by $17,000, the lawsuit says.
After she introduced she was operating for sheriff in February 2021 — to exchange Spurlock, who was term-limited — Spurlock transferred Kluth to “a much less fascinating place” in detentions and supported a unique candidate for sheriff, in line with the lawsuit.
Spurlock fired Kluth in Might 2021, and on the time instructed Kluth she was “not dwelling as much as my mission, imaginative and prescient and values,” in line with the lawsuit. Kluth alleged that purpose was a pretext for illegal retaliation.
Kluth positioned third within the 2022 Republican main for Douglas County sheriff.
Spurlock didn’t instantly return a request for remark Friday.
Kluth’s attorneys on Friday heralded the big settlement as proof that her claims of office retaliation have been legitimate.
“This settlement sends a loud message to regulation enforcement leaders throughout the nation that individuals in energy can’t use the facility and affect of their workplace to retaliate in opposition to those that maintain differing political beliefs,” legal professional Matthew Cron stated within the information launch.
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