In a 35-page opinion, a US District Judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by the former Greeneville Police Assistant Chief against the Town of Greeneville.
Mike Crum had sued the town after his termination in 2021. Crum alleged in his suit that the Town of Greeneville acted in disregard of his rights secured under the constitution. He also claimed that the termination resulted in injury to his compensation and benefits, loss of reputation and respect, loss of career opportunities, embarrassment, humiliation, and mental anguish.
In January, the Town requested a summary judgment, asking the court to rule in its favor based on the merits of the case and as a matter of law. In nearly every instance raised by the Town, Judge Thomas Varlan agreed that Crum had not proven either standing to bring the suit or damages from the termination.
Using sometimes technical terms, the judge stated that Crum had failed to prove certain aspects of his case. In one instance, Judge Varlan noted that Crum claimed he requested an opportunity to have a name-clearing hearing, but Varlan ruled that Crum never actually made that specific request. Varlan also rejected Crum’s claim that his termination made it difficult to find future employment, ruling that Crum had not, in fact, sought other employment with other law enforcement divisions, and that he did not follow up on another job opportunity to find out if the reason he was not hired was because of the termination.
The ruling effectively ends the suit as a victory for the Town of Greeneville, unless Crum decides to seek an appeal of the judge’s decision.
