Former prosecutor wins $3 million award against Pierce County

A King County Superior Court Jury Friday awarded more than $3 million to a former senior deputy prosecutor in Pierce County who said she was wrongfully terminated in January of 2004.

Barbara Corey, a 20-year veteran of the prosecutor's office, had claimed that Pierce County Prosecutor Gerry Horne targeted her after he heard she might run against him for prosecutor.

Corey's attorney, John Connelly, said Horne manufactured a criminal investigation against Corey and leaked information to the news media to make it appear Corey had been fired for mishandling office funds.

In her lawsuit, Corey said her firing damaged her reputation, caused long-term physical injury and "extreme mental anguish," and limited her ability to pursue meaningful career alternatives.

The jury in the four-week trial awarded $1.5 million for the damage to Corey's reputation, $750,000 for noneconomic damages, $700,000 for damages related to the defamation and $125,000 for lost wages.

Pierce County is expected to appeal the award.