Treasurer Dennis Milligan Added To Lawsuit Against Chief Of Staff

Marine Glisovic with our content partner, KATV Ch. 7 News, reports:

An attorney representing a fired Arkansas State Treasurer employee has added Treasurer Dennis Milligan as a defendant in the lawsuit against Chief of Staff Jim Harris.

The supplemental complaint was filed Friday morning in the Pulaski County Circuit Court.

According to fired Outreach Manager David Singer’s attorney, Milligan denied Singer a name-clearing hearing.

In the suit, attorney Luther Sutter cites that Milligan fired Singer because he thought he was mentally ill, after Harris began speaking about Singer’s wife and his mental health in a disgusting manner.

Prior to Singer’s firing, according to court documents, Singer had complained about using public funds to engage in political activities and harassment, each an activity protected by the Arkansas Whistleblower Act, shortly after Singer was fired.

Following the suit filed against Harris, Milligan’s office released this statement:

“The allegations made by Mr. Singer are untrue. The actions taken by Jim Harris were done so in his official capacity as Chief of Staff. This matter has been referred to the Attorney General’s office.”

Sutter cites in the suit that Milligan’s statement has placed the full majesty and power of the State of Arkansas in support of these terrible allegations, which is why he says he names Milligan both in his individual and his official capacity as Treasurer of the State of Arkansas.

He also claims that as a direct result of denying Singer a name-clearing hearing, Singer has been denied due process and that suffering severe mental and emotional distress and loss of reputation.

Channel 7 reached out to Milligan’s office, Spokesman Grant Wallace said he was not aware of the suit, but would look into it and get back to KATV if a statement is made.

UPDATE (12:12 PM):
Treasurer Milligan’s Spokesman Grant Wallace tells KATV they are referring all comments to the Attorney General’s office.

Channel 7 has contacted the AG’s office and Spokesman Judd Deere said they would respond with a statement shortly.

UPDATE (1:24 PM):
Attorney General Spokesman Judd Deere released this statement:

“The Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the matter, but will not comment further at this time.”

“We want the opportunity to go to the State Capitol and clear Mr. Singer’s name because before it was just a private matter between Mr. Harris and Mr. Singer, but with Mr. Milligan’s statement and the Arkansas Attorney General’s involvement, we are now on the taxpayers dollars,” said Singer’s Attorney Luther Sutter.

“When Mr. Milligan issued a statement saying that terrible email was the official policy of the State Treasurer, he implicated the State of Arkansas,” added Sutter.

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