Campbell County hit with federal lawsuit by former sanitation director

KNOXVILLE, TN. (WLAF)- Campbell County is facing a federal lawsuit. The 36 page complaint, which was filed by a former employee, alleges the county participated in a number of illegal activities.

Former Campbell County Sanitation Director William “Bill” Rutherford, Jr. filed the lawsuit in the Eastern District of the United States District Court.

Within the filing, Rutherford alleges the county demoted, then fired him, last year after he exercised “his right to communicate with elected public officials.” The firing was for a “trumped up reason” that came after Rutherford reported “illegal and unethical conduct to the (county) commission and others in the county government.”

While Rutherford did ask to be awarded damages, he didn’t specify an amount he felt he was owed.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 12/18/2023- 6AM)