GOOD THUNDER, MINN. – A lawsuit springing from small-town drama could have multimillion-dollar consequences in southern Minnesota.

A jury awarded the former city clerk of Good Thunder more than $3 million in damages after she claimed she was punished for reporting potential conflict-of-interest issues with the mayor.

Ashney Helleksen said city council members blamed her for sharing concerns that led to the arrest of Good Thunder’s longtime mayor, leading to harassment against her and a hostile work environment in the town of about 500 people.

The jury on July 23 agreed that whistleblowing was a factor in the city of Good Thunder firing Helleksen in 2023. It voted to award $2.5 million in punitive damages on top of $600,000 for emotional distress and wage loss.

“Ashney Helleksen was punished for speaking up, and it destroyed her,” said her lawyer, Anja Sivertson, during closing arguments in Blue Earth County District Court in Mankato.

The city council of Good Thunder, which is about 20 minutes south of Mankato, had a closed special meeting about the case on Thursday. Sue Petty, the current clerk, said the city had no comment on Friday.

Helleksen contacted the Office of the State Auditor in 2021 to report concerns about city business involving Mayor Robert John Anderson. The state investigated Anderson, and he was arrested on six charges, including embezzlement and theft, in 2022.

The state later dropped most charges as part of a deal in which Anderson pleaded guilty to the...

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