MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two whistleblowers are feeling vindicated after General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer was indicted this week on federal corruption charges, their attorney says.

Jeffrey Walker, the former chief administrative officer for Sawyer, and his executive assistant, Keona Bean, claim they lost their jobs after they questioned fraudulent time records and charges on company credit cards.

Both have filed a lawsuit against Sawyer and the county for retaliation under the state’s whistleblower statute.

“Jeffrey Walker at the time was the administrator of the General Sessions Court. He complained to the Shelby County Attorney and the Board of Professional Responsibility because he figured out that it was Ms. Sawyer who was doing these things improperly. And it went from there to what’s now been a criminal indictment against Ms. Sawyer,” said Ralph Gibson, with Gibson and Perryman attorneys at law.

Keona Bean said she was excluded from core department meetings, had her salary nearly cut in half, and was forced to quit.

Walker said he was locked out of his computer after he refused to resign, was publicly humiliated, and received a termination letter for “Performance” on December 17, even though he never received any disciplinary action.

Bean and Walker are both asking for back pay, front pay and emotional damages. Walker is seeking $1 million in punitive and compensatory damages.

“And if the county won’t compensate or whoever, one of the defendants will not compensate...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxPaEJ4NGUyM1R0SnpZUXZIaGdr...