Satterfield Files Lawsuit Against City Over Termination

Former Bourbon Police Chief Paul Satterfield has filed a lawsuit against the city following his March 2 termination that brought an end to his three-plus year tenure as head of the department.

Satterfield’s attorney Mark Wenner filed the suit in the Crawford County Circuit Court on March 30.

The former chief is seeking a reversal of the Bourbon City Council’s decision to terminate him; injuctive relief including, but not limited to, reinstatement and removal of all documents to related to his removal from his personnel file; backpay and lost benefits for the duration of his termination; compensatory damages for his injuries, including lost wages and benefits, emotional distress and injury to his reputation; punitive damages for the city’s “willful, wanton and reckless disregard” for his statutory and constitutional rights and costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

In the 32-page filing, Satterfield alleges that the city conspired to remove him from office; wrongfully discharged him; did not comply with the Missouri Administration Procedures Act; failed to properly record the closed session hearing on March 2 and offered no sworn testimony from any witnesses and relied on double and triple hearsay.

Satterfield also says he was unable to cross examine or impeach the sources of out-of-court statements the board relied on to remove him. 

The lawsuit also claims the exhibits the city used to remove Satterfield failed to show “just cause.”

Read more on this in the April 8 issue of the Independent News.

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