Reported in the Daily Dunklin Democrat, Sunday, December 10, 2006:

Mediation process results in $70,000 settlement (by Steve Hankins)

“A mediation process resulted in a $70,000 settlement in favor of two former Dunklin County deputy clerks who filed a lawsuit in federal court against the county and its assessor. The lawsuit, filed against Dunklin County and Assessor Brenda Dicus by plaintiffs . . . claimed the former clerks were terminated from their positions wrongfully. Both plaintiffs said Dicus fired them ‘on behalf of Dunklin County’ because the former clerks discovered Dicus allegedly cashing checks for sums charged to patrons for photocopying costs, the lawsuit stated. Dicus fired [the deputy clerks] on August 29, 2005, the lawsuit indicated. That action was an alleged violation of the plaintiffs’ Constitutional rights to free speech, and amounted to little more than retaliation by Dicus, the suit stated. . . The plaintiffs were represented by Rolla attorney Bryan Scheiderer.”