Settlement details released in suit against Constable Dennis Taylor and Smith Co.

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POSTED: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 - 10:20pm

UPDATED: Thursday, May 3, 2012 - 10:32am

According to a 12-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Tyler, obtained by KETK back in October, Smith County Precinct 5 Constable Dennis Taylor hired Windy Savering in 2005.

She was assigned as school resource officer for the Lindale School District.

She was even named officer of the year in 2007 -- and officially recognized by the school district in 2010 for a job well done.

But...things weren't going well behind the scenes as Savering's attorney told us by phone in October.

"My client Wendy Savering was fired in retaliation for filing an EEOC lawsuit against Constable Taylor and the county for sexual harassment," said attorney Barbara Hall.

In the documents, Savering claims after her divorce was finalized, Constable Taylor asked her out and made inappropriate comments about her in front of others on several occassions.

When it was clear she wasn't interested, Taylor made her work difficult and ultimately fired her.

A settlement was reached back in December, and now we know what's in it.

The documents include that Savering was paid $200,000.

Smith County makes it clear that the county only paid premiums and the rest was under insurance coverage.

Also the TCLOS documents on Savering must be changed to relect 'honorable discharge.'

And Savering must be reinstated as a non-paid reserve deputy for Precinct 5 -- retroactive and effective as of October 21st, 2010.

And lastly, Constable Taylor was required to write a positive employment letter of reference...signed by the constable himself.

Today, KETK contacted Constable Taylor, as well as attorneys on both sides of the argument.

Due to a confidentiality agreement, no one is able to say anything at the moment.

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Anyone who was involved in trying to cover up the amount of this settlement, such as the DA and the County Commisionors, should not be reelected. There is too much nepotism even in County politics.

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