Personal Injury Law

Former court worker paid by Snohomish County to settle lawsuit

By Kirk Bernard, Esq.

$85,000 has been paid by Snohomish County to a former court worker after she agreed not to file a civil lawsuit alleging that her demotion was retaliation for cooperation with a 2005 state investigation of a judge.

Sherree Marler, who had worked for that court for 26 years, filed a claim against the county, saying that her employment was "terminated" without notice in retaliation for her testimony before the state Judicial Conduct Commission. A lawsuit was prepared, but she continued to negotiate with the county and didn't file it, according to her lawyer, Jean Huffington of Seattle.

And agreement was reached by Marler and the county in November, and the county paid Marler the money last month, Huffington said.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Steven Bladek said that any claim can be a risk to an employer.

"It was determined, as a business decision, this is the best course of action for the county," Bladek said.

Full post as published by Seattle Injury Blog on February 14, 2008 (boomark / email).