Atlanta Agrees To $1.2M Settlement With Fired Fire Chief

A $1.2 million settlement has been reached in Cochran v. City of Atlanta, Georgia, the suit brought by a former Atlanta fire chief who was dismissed from his position over a book which he wrote.  The book, designed as a religious guide for men, called those who engage in extramarital or in homosexual sex "wicked" and "ungodly." A court found the city's pre-clearance rules for outside employment unconstitutional. (See prior posting.) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the settlement amount was approved by an 11-3 vote at Atlanta City Council meeting Monday.