LAWTON – The Comanche County Board of Commissioners recently approved a $100,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit that former employee Kenny Curry filed against the board after he was fired in 2023.
After discussing the proposed settlement in an executive session, the board voted 2-1 Aug. 4 to confirm it. Commission Chairman Josh Powers cast the only dissenting vote.
The commission will pay Curry $100,000 as part of the settlement, according to a resolution confirming the settlement. The county’s insurance carrier, the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma Self Insured Group, will cover $60,000 of the cost.
Districts 1 and 2 will pay $20,000 apiece toward the settlement for a total of $40,000, according to the resolution. District 3 is not required to cover part of the cost.
In addition, the board will restore 140 hours of sick leave and 320 hours of vacation leave to Curry, according to the resolution. Curry will also accrue vacation and sick leave going forward, as if he had never been fired. Federal lawsuit Curry, who served as foreman and first deputy under former District 1 Commissioner Gail Turner, was fired in July 2023 by Turner’s successor, John O’Brien. Curry later sued the county, alleging that O’Brien had fired him after he told District Attorney Kyle Cabelka that O’Brien had sexually harassed Curry’s coworker.
In 2024, a multicounty grand jury recommended O’Brien’s immediate removal from office, based on a series of criminal charges stemming from his alleged conduct. He was later suspended from office, pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor embezzlement charges and resigned his post in June 2024.
Three other misdemeanor charges against O’Brien, including two counts of outraging public decency for firing Curry and District 1 employee Mallory Geiger, were dismissed.
Geiger and a third District 1 employee who had been fired, Ronald T. Fletcher, filed federal lawsuits against the county, Southwest Ledger reported in February. Geiger’s lawsuit alleged that O’Brien had fired her in retaliation for reporting that he had sexually harassed her, and Fletcher’s suit alleged that O’Brien had fired him for reporting the incident to authorities.
Both Fletcher and Geiger settled their lawsuits out of court.
O’Brien’s successor, Commissioner Ryan John, rehired Curry as a District 1 employee in February, according to the Ledger.