A United States District Court has ordered a plaintiff to pay almost $9,000 in statutory costs after filing what has been deemed a frivolous case.

Former El Paso County Sheriff’s Sergeant John Huntz unsuccessfully sued El Paso County. In his federal lawsuit, Huntz claimed the Sheriff’s Office violated federal employment laws when he was fired in 2015.

According to news reports, Huntz claimed he was transferred from his role as a training officer to the night shift at the jail in retaliation because his wife had reported sexual harassment by a commander she worked with at the Sheriff Office’s dispatch center. Following his new assignment, Huntz went on leave for nearly eight months, until his employment was terminated in August 2015 because he failed to return to work. His wife’s claim was dismissed in 2017.

“We are entitled to all of these costs,” said County Attorney Amy Folsom. “The important thing to note is that the reimbursement will come out of the pocket of John Huntz himself. The defense of the County was unnecessary and we will continue to defend the County against all such frivolous claims.”

—Source: elpasoco.com