Piatt County Settles Wrongful Termination Case – $150,000.00

Piatt Co. (ECWd) –

The Piatt County Board approved a settlement agreement with the former Emergency Management Director, Micheal Holmes.  The agreement is a result of the federal lawsuit brought by Holmes for wrongful termination in 2021 after he raised issues with unallocated grant funds within EMA.  We covered that filing in this article.

The county has agreed to make three $50,000.00 Payments.

• a) One payment of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), less all required federal and state withholdings and deductions, made payable to Michael L. Holmes. This lump sum will be treated as income for which Holmes will receive an IRS Form W-2 Payment will be sent to Mr. Ronald. Langacker, Langacker Law, Ltd, 210 N. Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801;
• b) One payment of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) made payable to Michael L. Holmes which will not be subject to payroll deductions and will not be treated as income and for which Holmes will receive a Form 1099 to be issued in accordance with IRS rules and regulations. Payment will be sent to Mr. Ronald S. Langacker, Langacker Law, Ltd, 210 N. Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801; and
• c) One payment of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), made payable to Langacker Law, Ltd. This lump sum is for Holmes’ attorney’s fees. Payment will be sent to Mr. Ronald S. Langacker, Langacker Law, Ltd, 210 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.

The agreement also includes a provision that bars Holmes from applying for any employment with Piatt County in the future.  Considering Holmes was probably the most qualified EMA Director I have ever come across, it is clear Piatt County not only has lost a great asset but cost the taxpayers a small fortune to resolve an issue they created.

A copy of the full agreement can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.