Read the documents: City has spent $632K defending Clay's wrongful termination suit SAMUEL B. PARKER Richmond Times-Dispatch Jan 16, 2026 Jan 16, 2026 Updated Mar 4, 2026 0 × VCU Baseball may play at The Diamond; Centro to open in Westchester Commons; Solstice Advanced Materials to expand Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Officials have spent more than $632,000 defending Connie Clay’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the city, according to records obtained by The Times-Dispatch late Thursday.kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%92E’D C@F89=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=60c6a33`4b\da_g\c25_\g542\e62`5c33a3f5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmSbg_[___ >@C6 E92? r=2J :?:E:2==J D@F89E :? 96C 4@>A=2:?Ek^2m]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmr=2J[ r:EJ w2==’D 7@C>6C uC665@> @7 x?7@C>2E:@? p4E @77:46C[ 92D DF65 E96 4:EJ F?56C DE2E6 =2HD E92E AC@E64E H9:DE=63=@H6CD[ 4=2:>:?8 D96 H2D 7:C65 3J 7@C>6C 4:EJ DA@<6DA6CD@? !6EF=2 qFC<D 7@C C67FD:?8 E@ 3C62< AF3=:4 C64@C5D =2HD]k^Am People are also reading… Families get $800,000-plus in Franklin County housing discrimination case James Franklin delivers in debut as Virginia Tech routs VMI JMU football holds on to claim first win under Billy Napier Local immigration arrests, like ones in Franklin County, allowed to continue UVa forecast predicts loss of 18,050 jobs in Va. this year Franklin County moves ahead to replace Mike Meredith, despite crowd's disapproval Franklin County man guilty of possessing AI-generated child porn Virginia Tech's Franklin: Hokies focus on toppling crown Supervisor to Franklin County: never mind on that resignation Franklin County leaders cleared of misconduct following residents' complaint Hungry for hoagies? Wawa opens first Roanoke-area location in Salem. Cortez Harris feels 'like a real Hokie' after stellar debut Franklin County High needs more student parking after business lots push back Making the case for each Liberty quarterback in the battle for the starting job Rocky Mount mayor makes divorce complaint public kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 4:G:= EC:2= :? E96 42D6[ :?:E:2==J D4965F=65 7@C =2DE J62C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=606d5h4ha7\5545\c42f\g722\55h6g4`b_a66]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH2D C6D4965F=65 E@ yF?6k^2m 27E6C r=2J’D 2EE@C?6JD E@=5 #:49>@?5 r:C4F:E r@FCE yF586 r=2:C6 r2C5H6== E96J 925 366? F?23=6 E@ 7F==J 56A@D6 qFC<D @C 2446DD 46CE2:? 5@4F>6?ED :? 5:D4@G6CJ]k^Am Clay kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7fgdb4cb\`67`\cec`\2d5`\7_ddfcb5c5g3Qm~77:4:2=D H@?’E 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D 23@FE !6EF=2 qFC<D’ >:DD:?8 46==A9@?6k^2mk^Am k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmx?G@:46D 962G:=J C6524E65k^9am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{2DE yF?6[ %96 %:>6D\s:DA2E49 C6A@CE65 E92E E96 4:EJ’D =2H 7:C>[ ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D[ 925 3:==65 @77:4:2=D C@F89=J Sab_[___ 7@C :ED 5676?D6 D6CG:46D] qFE :? E96 >@?E9D D:?46[ E96 ?6HDA2A6C 92D 366? F?23=6 E@ 56E6C>:?6 9@H >F49 @77:4:2=D 925 DA6?E =:E:82E:?8 E96 42D6]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm%92E’D 3642FD6 >F=E:A=6 7@==@H\FA u~xp C6BF6DED 7@C 255:E:@?2= :?G@:46D C6EFC?65 ?@ C6DA@?D:G6 C64@C5D] ~77:4:2=D D2:5 ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D 925 ?@E 3:==65 E96 4:EJ D:?46 D@>6E:>6 :? E96 DAC:?8 — H96? E96 7:C>’D 3:==:?8 DJDE6> 2==6865=J >2=7F?4E:@?65[ 2?5 C6>2:?65 @FE @7 D6CG:46 7@C H66<D]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~? %9FCD52J ?:89E[ 2 4:EJ DA@<6DA6CD@? C6=62D65 D:I 255:E:@?2= :?G@:46D E92E 4@==64E:G6=J 6BF2=65 Sbhg[bdh]ah :? AC6G:@FD=J F?5:D4=@D65 =682= 4@DED] p== @7 E96 5@4F>6?ED H6C6 52E65 s64] b_[ 3FE 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =:?6 :E6>D E96J 4@?E2:?65[ 4@G6C65 D6CG:46D — DF49 2D 5C27E:?8 2?5 7:=:?8 >@E:@?D[ 2C8F:?8 5FC:?8 4@FCE 962C:?8D 2?5 2EE6?5:?8 56A@D:E:@?D — H6C6 AC@G:565 36EH66? |2J 2?5 }@G6>36C]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp=E9@F89 E96 :?G@:46D 4@?E2:?65 E@E2= 5@==2C 2>@F?ED 7@C E9@D6 D6CG:46D[ 2== @7 E96> H6C6 962G:=J C6524E65 F?56C 2? 6I6>AE:@? E@ ':C8:?:2 u~xp E92E D9:6=5D “=682= >6>@C2?52 2?5 @E96C H@C< AC@5F4E 4@>A:=65 DA64:7:42==J 7@C FD6 :? =:E:82E:@?]”k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp 4:EJ DA@<6DA6CD@? 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E @? E96 C6=62D6 @7 E96 C64@C5D 2?5 E96 DE2EFD @7 ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D’ :?G@:46\AC@46DD:?8 D@7EH2C6]k^Am Download PDF kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_c37a52h\65cf\ceab\3_e4\_a333a`5hh7_Qm&A52E6i x? =2HDF:E[ pAC:= q:?892> 4=2:>D 4:EJ CFD965 324E6C:2= E6DE:?8 5FC:?8 H2E6C 4C:D:Dk^2mk^Am k9a 5:ClQ=ECQm(92E 4@DE H92Enk^9amkA 5:ClQ=ECQm&?C6524E65 A@CE:@?D @7 E96 :?G@:46D D9@H E92E E96 @?8@:?8 5:DAFE6 36EH66? r=2J’D 2?5 E96 4:EJ’D 2EE@C?6JD @G6C 5@4F>6?E AC@5F4E:@? 92D 4@DE #:49>@?5 E2IA2J6CD E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr=2J’D 2EE@C?6JD 92G6 C6A62E65=J D2:5 E6IE >6DD286D 2?5 @E96C 4@>>F?:42E:@? 36EH66? r=2J 2?5 qFC<D H6C6 ?@E :?4=F565 :? E96 4:EJ’D :?:E:2= 5:D4=@DFC6D] %96 :?G@:46D D9@H >F=E:A=6 =:?6 :E6>D 7@C 9@FCD ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D 2EE@C?6JD DA6?E 4@?76CC:?8 H:E9 r=2J’D 4@F?D6=[ r2C5H6== 2?5 E96 4:EJ C682C5:?8 E9@D6 2==6865=J >:DD:?8 5@4F>6?ED[ 2?5 @3;64E:?8 E@ E96:C DFAA=6>6?E2= 5:D4@G6CJ C6BF6DED]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp== E@=5[ E96 E:>6 DA6?E ?68@E:2E:?8 2?5 6I64FE:?8 DFAA=6>6?E2= 5@4F>6?E AC@5F4E:@? 4@DED E96 4:EJ 2E =62DE Sc[___]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 4:EJ 2=D@ A2:5 ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D >@C6 E92? S`[___ 7@C 2 7:=:?8 :? H9:49 E96 7:C> 2D<65 E96 ;F586 E@ 7@C3:5 r=2J 7C@> DF3>:EE:?8 u~xp C6BF6DED E@ E96 4:EJ]k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!C@G:5:?8 5676?D6 4@F?D6= 5FC:?8 qFC<D’ 56A@D:E:@? 3J r=2J’D 2EE@C?6JD 4@DE E96 4:EJ ?62C=J Sf[___[ E96 C64@C5D D9@H[ H9:=6 7@C>6C :?E6C:> r9:67 p5>:?:DEC2E:G6 ~77:46C $23C:?2 y@J\w@88’D 56A@D:E:@? 4@DE Sc[g_c]d_] u@C>6C 7:?2?46 56A2CE>6?E s:C64E@C $96:=2 (9:E6’D 56A@D:E:@?[ >62?H9:=6[ 4@DE S`[eha]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_6b6_24d\da53\c5b4\32b2\635_d75d26a`Qmr:EJVD 2EE@C?6JD 2D< ;F586 E@ 3=@4< u~xp C6BF6DED 7C@> 4:EJVD 7@C>6C u~xp @77:46Ck^2mk^Am Samuel B. Parker (804) 649-6462sparker@timesdispatch.com 0 comments Locations Virginia Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Richmond city officials just settled a whistleblower lawsuit. How did we get here? The case stems from the firing of the city's former Freedom of Information Act officer. A1 Minute! January 15, 2026: VCU Baseball may play at The Diamond; Centro to open in Westchester Commons; Solstice Advanced Materials to expand VCU Baseball may play at The Diamond; Centro to open in Westchester Commons; Solstice Advanced Materials to expand Richmond neighbors: Obituaries for January 16 Read through the obituaries published today in Richmond Times-Dispatch. City's attorneys ask judge to block FOIA requests from city's former FOIA officer In a filing, attorneys for the city suggest Connie Clay's FOIA requests are intended to "embarrass" the city. Clay since June has received nea… 'You need to get rid of her': Fired FOIA officer's 'dogged persistence' bothered some in City Hall, testimony shows In her deposition, former city spokesperson Petula Burks characterized City Hall’s FOIA process as deeply dysfunctional and galling to officia… Judge rules city destroyed or failed to preserve evidence in whistleblower lawsuit Judge Claire Cardwell on Monday sanctioned the city and its attorneys for failing to comply with court orders on document production. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! August 24, 2026: RTD’s football preview; Virginia's hospitality industry awards; 25 Richmond-area companies make Inc. 5000 list A1 Minute! August 24, 2026: RTD’s football preview; Virginia's hospitality industry awards; 25 Richmond-area companies make Inc. 5000 list US depends on prison labor, but is slow to mandate fair conditions US depends on prison labor, but is slow to mandate fair conditions
Richmond city officials just settled a whistleblower lawsuit. How did we get here? The case stems from the firing of the city's former Freedom of Information Act officer.
A1 Minute! January 15, 2026: VCU Baseball may play at The Diamond; Centro to open in Westchester Commons; Solstice Advanced Materials to expand VCU Baseball may play at The Diamond; Centro to open in Westchester Commons; Solstice Advanced Materials to expand
Richmond neighbors: Obituaries for January 16 Read through the obituaries published today in Richmond Times-Dispatch.
City's attorneys ask judge to block FOIA requests from city's former FOIA officer In a filing, attorneys for the city suggest Connie Clay's FOIA requests are intended to "embarrass" the city. Clay since June has received nea…
'You need to get rid of her': Fired FOIA officer's 'dogged persistence' bothered some in City Hall, testimony shows In her deposition, former city spokesperson Petula Burks characterized City Hall’s FOIA process as deeply dysfunctional and galling to officia…
Judge rules city destroyed or failed to preserve evidence in whistleblower lawsuit Judge Claire Cardwell on Monday sanctioned the city and its attorneys for failing to comply with court orders on document production.
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond
A1 Minute! August 24, 2026: RTD’s football preview; Virginia's hospitality industry awards; 25 Richmond-area companies make Inc. 5000 list
A1 Minute! August 24, 2026: RTD’s football preview; Virginia's hospitality industry awards; 25 Richmond-area companies make Inc. 5000 list
