Henderson approves settlement

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004 | 10:49 a.m.

The Henderson City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to pay a former employee $297,000 to settle a lawsuit in which the employee claimed he was fired in retaliation for filing worker's compensation claims.

Gerald Root was a maintenance worker in the city's Public Works Department when he was fired in August 1999.

In addition to claiming his job was taken in retaliation for claims he filed, Root also claimed his firing violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the settlement for the federal lawsuit Root filed.

Root will not get his job back under the agreement, which also includes no admission of wrongdoing or responsibility on behalf of the city.

The city attorney's office recommended the council approve the settlement, which represents 3 1/2 years of back pay.

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