(La Porte County, IN) - Separate federal lawsuits alleging wrongful termination against La Porte County government have been dismissed.

 

The lawsuits were filed by three people alleging they were fired for political reasons.

 

Two of the employees, including former La Porte County Highway Department Superintendent Allen Stevens, already had their cases dismissed before the final lawsuit from Dion Bergeron, a former seasonal employee, was dismissed yesterday in U.S. District Court in South Bend.

 

Lack of proof from Bergeron was among the reasons cited by a judge for dismissing that case.  

 

“It’s finally been dismissed, so we’re done with it,” said La Porte County Commissioner Steve Holifield, who was not in office when the lawsuits were filed or when the job terminations were made in 2023.

 

The terminations resulted from a majority vote by Commissioner Connie Gramarossa and then Commissioner Rich Mrozinski.

 

The vote followed a decision by the La Porte County Republican Party to remove Mrozinski as an official member of the party at a time when Mrozinski and party leaders were at odds with each other.

 

Stevens, who’s also the La Porte County Republican Party Chairman, was party chairman when Mrozinski was dismissed in a vote by leaders within the party.