Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220674
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wolfgang Oedel voluntarily withdrew his suit, filed last June in U.S. District Court.
Oedel had been employed with the department for six years when he was fired in 1988.
He alleged Sprinkle refused to investigate allegations of misconduct against Oedel, even though he was required to under department disciplinary rules.
Oedel's suit said that if Sprinkle had investigated the allegations, he would have found them to be false.
The situation started when a deputy shoved Oedel's wife, he said. Oedel approached the deputy and told him to leave her alone, he said.
The deputy filed a report exaggerating what happened, Oedel said. Oedel was dismissed shortly after.
Oedel alleged he requested information to pursue an appeal of his termination but Sprinkle never responded, a violation of department rules.
Oedel, of Bedford, said Thursday that he decided to drop the suit when he discovered a higher court's ruling in a similar case that concluded a person in Sprinkle's position "is protected and above and beyond the law."
"We had depositions taken. We went all through this thing," Oedel said. "We were ready to go to court when my attorney got hold of this decision. It knocked everything right down the creek."
Oedel said he would have pursued the case further but he did not have the financial means to do so.
Oedel, 50, had asked for reinstatement, payment of back wages or future wages and $100,000 in damages.
Sprinkle could not be reached for comment.
by CNB