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Fired Fulton County manager argues for payment before supreme court

Patrick O’Connor. JOHN SPINK / AJC FILE PHOTO
Patrick O’Connor. JOHN SPINK / AJC FILE PHOTO
By Arielle Kass
April 17, 2017

Monday, Fulton County found itself defending before the Georgia Supreme Court the firing of an interim county manager, Patrick O’Connor, in 2015.

O’Connor was the fourth of six county managers Fulton employed in quick succession over a two year period.

O’Connor, who had been Fulton’s finance director for nearly two decades before he was elevated then dismissed, claimed his firing was in error, and he should be entitled to his job back — or payment, if that was not practical.

The county could be on the hook not just for back pay, if O’Connor wins his case, but could be required to either give him his job back or pay him even more money.

It will likely be several months before the court issues a decision.

To read about O'Connor's arguments for why he should still have a job, and they county's rationale for why he doesn't, click here.

About the Author

Arielle Kass covers Gwinnett County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She started at the paper in 2010, and has covered business and local government beats around metro Atlanta. Arielle is a graduate of Emory University.

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