5/3/13 - A former sergeant who was fired from the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department and then filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in federal court but lost has been ordered to pay attorney fees. The civil lawsuit was filed by former sheriff Sergeant Tom Ash against Livingston County, Sheriff Bob Bezotte and Undersheriff Mike Murphy in 2010. A jury verdict was reached in September of last year and Bezotte prevailed. A motion seeking nearly $58,000 for attorney fees was filed, which was granted in part by a U.S District Court Magistrate. Based on variety of factors, including that the County and Undersheriff Mike Murphy were later dismissed from the case as defendants, it was recommended that the prevailing partyâs attorney fees be awarded but limited to $1,698.30. It was also recommended that Ash pay the defendantâs taxed costs, for a total of $3,198.35. The parties now have 14 days to object or seek a review of the report and recommendation. Ash alleged he was transferred to work in the jail after making comments during a union meeting but Bezotte maintained it was because of Ashâs own repeated actions. Bezotte says Ash had been disciplined on a number of occasions and eventually, he was forced to terminate him, including lying during a promotions interview about an affair with an assistant prosecutor. Ash had sought damages in excess of $75,000 and the litigation stretched out for more than two years before Bezotte prevailed. (JM)
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