By Esteban Fernandez, The Register-Herald
BECKLEY — Three new lawsuits allege the Raleigh County Commission allowed the hostile work environment fostered by former Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield to persist for weeks after rejecting an initial letter of resignation from Hatfield.
Three plaintiffs, all employees of the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, filed new complaints in court against Hatfield and the Raleigh County Commission on Friday. A fourth plaintiff this month filed a new suit against Hatfield, accusing Hatfield of raping her in the basement of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Brandon Gray, of Bradford & Gray, PLLC, represents the three plaintiffs. Teresa Toriseva, of Toriseva Law, represents the fourth plaintiff.
The three new plaintiffs accused Raleigh County commissioners of negligence and conspiracy and claimed the Commission failed to take any steps necessary to remove Hatfield from office. They allege the Commission only began to act after word of Hatfield’s conduct broke through the news media.
