Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Lawsuit Possibly Looming

Just days after 11 laid off deputies formerly of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office presented their arguments to the Georgia Supreme Court, the possibility of a lawsuit looms.

The deputies have less than 90 days to submit a lawsuit regarding what they believe to be their wrongful termination after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decided not to take on the case.

The department stands accused of laying off the officers for political gain and age discrimination, while Sheriff Duane Piper maintains his motives were solely for restructuring meant to benefit the department.

The deputies' attorney Lance LoRusso said, however, that the severance package and attempts to mediate the situation were suspicious.

"There was a provision in there that I've never seen. It was a provision that said they'd never work for Forsyth County again," he said.

Piper was not present for the oral testimonies that took place last week. In a recent interview, he lamented the potential lawsuit as being costly to taxpayers.

"Unfortunately the lawsuit route will cost the taxpayers money to defend the lawsuit," Piper told WSBTV.