Former General Sessions Court CAO claims clerk fired him for not signing off on inappropriate use of county funds
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Clerk Tami Sawyer’s now-former Chief Administrative Officer, Jeffrey Allen Walker, has filed suit against her, alleging that he was fired from his position at the Shelby County General Sessions Court because he refused to sign off on improper county expenditures.
In the lawsuit filed Wednesday, November 12, Walker claims the termination caused him to suffer financially and emotionally.
He claims Clerk Sawyer’s actions were in response to his refusing to stay silent about the alleged misuse of county funds.
Walker was hired as CAO for the Shelby County General Sessions Court on Sept. 1, 2024. As part of his duties, Walker approved and monitored the county-issued procurement card, which some county employees are permitted to use for official county expenses.
The lawsuit claims that on October 26, 2024, Walker’s administrative assistant alerted him to charges on the procurement card that they had neither approved nor authorized, totaling $4,871.05.
It was later determined that the card was used for personal expenses, including but not limited to a cigar lounge, Uber Eats, Amazon deliveries, University of Memphis men’s basketball games, political campaign contributions, and purchases at food establishments unrelated to government operations.
On November 8, 2024, Walker was directed to sign off on more purchases totaling $930, which were used to buy gift cards to be awarded to citizens through an unauthorized raffle.
Days later, Walker reportedly emailed county attorneys and the Ethics Board informing them of the suspicious charges.
The very next day, Clerk Sawyer reportedly excluded Walker from a meeting with her appointed staff to “clear the air,” and he was told he would not be included in any future meetings. He was later called into her office, where she, while “visibly angry,” probed him on why he contacted the Ethics Board, and asked him to resign. He refused and was later fired, but not before being publicly humiliated, according to court documents.
His official termination letter arrived upon returning to work from a surgery on December 17, 2024. The letter cited “performance” as the reason for the firing, despite no prior disciplinary action for such.
Walker is now asking that the court find that he was wrongfully fired in retaliation for not signing off on inappropriate county expenses. He also wants his former job back and no less than $500,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.
Action News 5 has reached out to Clerk Sawyer for comment on the pending litigation.
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