By ALICIA LEONARD
A federal discrimination lawsuit was filed April 22 against Walton County Sheriff Ralph Johnson in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola by an attorney representing the two former deputies.
Plaintiffs Kristen Infinger and Melissa Vause are seeking $75,000 plus attorney’s fees, costs and damages, according to the complaint. They claim they were discriminated against by Johnson due to their gender and because they were pregnant.
Marie Mattox, attorney for Infinger and Vause, has publicly declined comments on the case due to the risk of possibly jeopardizing the lawsuit. She has also advised her clients not to speak to the media, as well.
Capt. Eddie Farris responded in kind when asked about the lawsuit. “Now that it has been filed, Sheriff Johnson cannot comment on the case. But as his spokesperson, I can say that the sheriff is confident that the facts of the case will come out in court and will speak for themselves and he did not discriminate against the women because of their gender or pregnancy.”