Langston contests information released by commissioners

Eureka Justice of the Peace Stormy Langston is contesting a press release issued by Lincoln County commissioners on Monday regarding a lawsuit filed by a former employee. 

On Wednesday, Langston said it was inaccurate to state that she and the commissioners had agreed to settle the suit when the decision to settle was made by the insurance carrier.

The decision had nothing to do with the strength of the former employee’s case, Langston said. 

Langston was referring to her former employee Chrystal Stacy, who filed a lawsuit in 2012 alleging that Langston had terminated Stacy in retaliation for Stacy’s grievances made regarding a hostile work environment. Stacy also alleged Langston had made false and maligning statements to a newspaper in Eureka.

This past Monday afternoon, the Lincoln County Commission’s executive assistant, Bill Bischoff, issued a release stating the Lincoln County District Court had dismissed Chrystal Stacy’s claims in Chrystal Stacy v. Stormy Langston and Lincoln County on July 23.

The release states that Langston and the county had disputed Stacy’s allegations. It also states that Stacy, Langston and Lincoln County had agreed to settle all Stacy’s claims for $50,000.

Langston said the release made it sound as if there was an agreement to the settlement. 

“I don’t have a problem with a press release if it is accurate,” Langston said. “But this was very slanted against me.”

Langston also questioned why the release did not mention a summary judgment by Judge James Wheelis, dated July 15, that dismissed the complaint against her, with prejudice.

In a court document of the summary judgment that Langston said should have been mentioned in the press release, Judge Wheelis states that it was clear from the complaint about Langston that Langston was in the course and scope of her position as justice of the peace. 

The complaint from Stacy regarding the libel and slander claim was dismissed with prejudice by Judge Wheelis.

On Thursday, Lincoln County Commissioner Tony Berget said  he still stood by the original statement.

It was true that the insurance company made the decision when or when not to settle, though there may be different reasons and opinions from the parties involved, Berget said.