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PARKERSBURG -- A former Wood County sheriff's deputy is to be reinstated as a sergeant and receive $275,000 to settle a lawsuit against the county, the department and a former sheriff.
The settlement agreement in Della Matheny's lawsuit was approved Monday by Pleasants County Circuit Court Judge Timothy L. Sweeney.
Matheny resigned from the sheriff's department in July 2021 and filed the suit the following November, alleging then-Sheriff Steve Stephens harassed female employees, created a hostile work environment and violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act and whistleblower laws.
The settlement agreement is contingent upon Matheny's reinstatement at her previous rank and with credit for service since her original hiring date of July 1, 2013. That requires action by the Wood County Civil Service Commission.
Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said he had not been informed of the settlement or its approval by the judge as of Tuesday afternoon. He had not been contacted by anyone's lawyers in the matter.
"If it was signed by the judge, then at that point she will be reinstated to the sheriff's department under the conditions of the judge's order and will come back for reassignment to the sheriff's office,'' Woodyard said.
He is holding off on making any official statement as there are two other lawsuits by employees under Stephens pending against the former sheriff, the department and the commission. Woodyard said he will be making a statement once those lawsuits are resolved.
With the court's approval and her reinstatement, the settlement would end Matheny's legal action against Stephens, the sheriff's department and the commission. It states the payment of the $275,000 is not an admission of guilt by any party.
Allegations in the suit included that Stephens created abusive working conditions and engaged in a series of retaliatory acts such as stalking, targeting, unfair discipline and ostracization against Matheny, leading to her resignation.
Stephens denied the accusations in court filings, saying Matheny was not discriminated against "intentionally or otherwise" and that his employment practices were "conducted in all respects in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations and constitutions."
Stephens retired and resigned as sheriff effective Dec. 1, 2021. In October 2021, 27 members of the Wood County Deputy Sheriffs Association voted having no confidence in Stephens' leadership.
Matheny's suit is one of three filed against Stephens, the department and the commission by former employees. All three were eventually assigned to Sweeney after Wood County's three circuit judges recused themselves.