Former Fulton official files lawsuit, wants his job back
A former top Fulton County administrator has filed a lawsuit that says he was improperly fired and wants his old job back.
Patrick O'Connor spent nearly two decades as the county's finance director. He was promoted to interim county manager last October, when commissioners fired then-Manager Dwight Ferrell after just a year on the job.
But the county Board of Commissioners fired O'Connor in February, offering no explanation. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court, O'Connor says commissioners had the legal authority to relieve him of his duties as interim county manager.
But, citing state law and county personnel regulations, he says they should have allowed him to return to his job as finance director. Only the county manager can hire and fire the finance director, he says.
The lawsuit accuses the county of breach of contract and seeks O’Connor’s reinstatement as finance director, plus back pay and benefits.
About the Author
David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
