Georgia City Settles Whistleblower Lawsuit From Ex-Deputy Coroner

July 15, 2015

The City of Augusta, Ga., has settled a whistleblower suit against a former deputy coroner who said he was retaliated against for reporting that the coroner was stealing money and property from dead people.

The Augusta Chronicle reported July 8 that the city settled with Johnny McDonald for $200,000. The city’s attorney Andrew MacKenzie says the city is resolving McDonald’s claim but is not acknowledging liability.

The city’s former coroner Grover Tuten is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in federal court to using a dead person’s bank card. Tuten is also facing charges in Richmond County of theft of cash, vehicles and other property that belonged to dead people.

McDonald has said he was also forced to sign a statement saying he was exempt from overtime pay or be fired.

Topics Lawsuits Georgia

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