BEND, Ore. (AP) — Deschutes County District Attorney Patrick Flaherty has asked the state Department of Justice to defend him in a lawsuit by three former deputy district attorneys Flaherty fired when he took office in January.
The Bulletin newspaper in Bend reports the Oregon Department of Justice plans to interview Deschutes County employees and officials to determine whether to defend Flaherty.
In the complaint, the three former prosecutors allege wrongful discharge, sex discrimination, unfair labor practices and violations of their First Amendment rights to free speech and association.
They claim that county officials aided Flaherty in his plan to fire them by delaying a ratification vote on their contract until after Flaherty took office.
