JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) -- An attorney representing a group of deputies who sued after they were fired when a new sheriff took office in Clayton County says the case has been settled. Attorney Harlan Miller says the settlement has been paid in full. The staff attorney for Clayton County -- Michael Smith -- confirms that the county has paid the settlement of about $6.5 million. Miller also said Wednesday the federal case had been dismissed and that several "miscellaneous cases," which had been filed against Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, have been dropped as a part of the settlement. The sheriff fired the workers on January 3, his first day in office. Sheriff's office snipers stood guard on the jail's roof as the 27 fired workers were escorted out. Another seven workers later joined the lawsuit -- claiming wrongful treatment by Sheriff Hill, the county's first black sheriff. The day after the firings, Clayton County Superior Court Judge Stephen Boswell ruled the employees were dismissed without cause. They went back to work about two weeks later. Hill calls the settlement a "time of celebration" for the department.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
