That's the headline on the front page story in this morning's Charleston Gazette-Mail. Yes, the twelve lawsuits against West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner for wrongful termination have ended and it has cost the state a total of $3.2 million (legal fees not included).

Warner still contends that these were "at-will" employees:

Warner also has said he believes the state Board of Risk and Insurance Management erred in settling the lawsuits, contending that all fired employees were “at-will” and were subject to termination for any cause or no cause.

However, in his deposition, Warner testified that he was aware that state and federal laws prohibit firing “at-will” employees because of their age, race, sex or political affiliation.

All but one were Democrats and that one was a registered independent.

There was nothing about the settlement in today's Wheeling Intelligencer. Since Warner is clearly an Ogden favorite, I would expect that we will soon see another rewrite of a Warner press release or editorial or Mike Myer column explaining to us how Warner clearly did the right thing. (Ogden favorites can do no wrong.)

$3.2 million. Didn't the legislature impeach some judges for wasting far less taxpayer money?