Tuesday, Aug. 19, 1997 | 9:07 a.m.
Janell Beck will receive $70,000 and Ranae Goff will get $65,000. She also will retain her job as a result of a previous settlement, Beck's attorney, Peter Wetherall, told the Elko Daily Free Press.
A third fired employee declined to come to terms with the city and won a $138,000 award plus reinstatement to her job in a trial here presided over by U.S. District Judge Edward C. Reed of Reno.
The three were fired in May 1994 after they discussed their options of hiring an attorney or seeking help from their union during an investigation stemming from a cartoon mailed to a former co-worker.
Former Elko police Chief Bob Songer banned any discussion of the case among involved employees.
The federal jury found that to be a violation of the employees' constitutional rights to free speech.
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