Columbus City Council last night approved a 140 thousand dollar settlement of a lawsuit filed by the former secretary for Franklin County Municipal Court Judge James O’Grady, who said he retaliated against her for speaking out about sexually explicit comments he made in her presence.
Teresa Barry's 2014 lawsuit that sought 2 million dollars also named Pamela Gordon, the chief of the labor and employment section of the city attorney's office. Other officials were also named. Solicitor General Lara Baker-Morrish says the settlement saves taxpayers money.
Council also approved the city's 914 million dollar operating budget for the year. Council added two million dollars in spending to Mayor Andy Ginther's proposal, earmarking money for a new council employee to manage campaign-finance regulations, a violence intervention program and the creation of an eviction prevention fund.
