This all stems from Kline's firing of Jacqie Spradling, who'd worked in the DA's office for 15 years and ran the domestic-violence unit, in April 2007. Spradling filed a case against Kline with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The ruling came a month ago from Chief Administrative Law Judge Susan Biro, who referred to statements made by Kline in an affidavit as "not credible," noting that his statements contradicted an earlier deposition.
Kline is appealing and denies all of Spradling's claims and says she was fired for "legitimate business reasons."
Spradling also has a lawsuit pending against Kline in Johnson County District Court. She's "seeking damages for mental anguish, no less than $63,000 in past wage loss, no less than $68,000 in future lost income, legal fees and lost benefits," the AP reported.
Spradling was one of Kline's loudest critics. In her lawsuit, she alleged that Kline and his lead prosecutor, Stephen Maxwell, "tolerated incompetence on the part of male attorneys," leveled unwarranted criticisms against Spradling and other female attorneys, stripped responsibilities and duties away from her, and bugged her office.
Spradling filed a complaint March 19, 2007, with Johnson County's human resources department. The complaint claimed that women attorneys in the District Attorney's Office were being discriminated against and that anyone who complained was threatened with retaliation.
Johnson County's human resources department began an investigation into Spradling's allegations. The county requested additional information from Kline's office. On April 20, Kline's office replied that it would not cooperate with the investigation — and four days later, Kline fired Spradling.
In May 2007, Spradling spoke to a packed room of Johnson County Women Democrats. She explained that being an outspoken woman in Kline's office was unacceptable. "As a whole, women are not viewed as folks that should be expressing opinions," Spradling said. "Turns out, I've got some. I was not supposed to express them, and the fact that I expressed them frequently I think they found annoying."
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Makes me sick to my stomach to know an attorney who at one time was Attorney General of a State and also the head Prosecutor of that State's largest county could be so untruthful as Phill Kline appears to be.
What ever happened to the disbarment proceedings? Makes me ill to think anyone who appears to have the traits suggested of Mr. Kline, could best represent the interests of a client, least of all the citizens of a great State and County.
Who in their right mind would want such a sullied personality to teach youthful individuals about the law and how to be a good lawyer?
Fool the public? All you have to do is say you govern according to the Bible and will put 100% of your focus and efforts into making Kansas abortion-free and homosexual-free and you get elected. There is no fooling involved. The people want these crazies.
Kansas has several "worms" in political office. I am surprised these people can fool the public as much as they do.
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