CLAYTON COUNTY, Georgia. – Clayton County has settled a lawsuit with a former county sheriff who was allegedly discriminated against and fired by former Sheriff Victor Hill.
Plaintiff Vincent Handsford received $400,000 as part of the settlement, his lawyers told FOX 5.
Lawyers say Hill repeatedly denied Handsford promotions, demoted him four ranks from deputy sergeant to correctional officer and denied him accommodations because of his disability.
Handsford, who worked for the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office since 2012, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2015.
After alleged years of discrimination, Hill fired Handsford in 2019.
Attorneys allege that even after his firing, Hill continued to retaliate against Handsford, threatening him with arrest if he entered the Clayton County Courthouse – the site where his lawsuit was originally filed – and “personally interfering” when the former deputy tried to get another job with the police department.
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“After meeting Mr. Handsford and hearing his story, we knew we had to fight for him,” said Ashley Wilson Clark, who has worked on the case for the past six years. “We faced two significant adverse changes in the law from the United States Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals over the course of this long process, which makes this resolution even more satisfying for our client and us. Mr. Handsford’s courage and unwavering belief in the cause of justice were an incredible inspiration, and we are thrilled that he can finally move on with his law enforcement career after this chapter is over.”
The agreement was reached between Handsford and current Sheriff Levon Allen, who took over the case after Hill’s conviction in federal court.
