Iraq war vet gets $115K for Western Pa. jail firing
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A veteran who received the Purple Heart in Iraq has settled his wrongful-firing lawsuit against a county jail in western Pennsylvania for $115,000.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the settlement amount was revealed today after a Right to Know Request.
Allan Kern, of New Alexandria, settled the lawsuit against Westmoreland County last week. The retired Army National Guard sergeant says he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning home from Iraq in 2006.
His federal lawsuit claimed his resulting difficulties with judgment and concentration caused him problems after he was hired as a prison guard. He sued claiming he was refused a transfer to a less-stressful job and fired in Jan. 2009.
A county official told the newspaper that the settlement does not require the county to rehire Kern.