Most of Suit Against Ky. Governor Dismissed

A judge Wednesday dismissed most of a lawsuit filed by the owner of a nursing home who said Gov. Paul E. Patton started a regulatory crackdown after she ended their two-year affair.

Dismissed were all five claims Tina Conner filed against the state and two of the five she filed against Patton. Judge Roger Crittenden said that Conner could not sue the governor for sexual harassment and wasting state resources, but left intact claims of infliction of emotional distress, outrage and defamation.

Patton’s lawyer, Sheryl Snyder, said he had not asked for the remaining claims to be dismissed, but soon will.

“We got everything we asked for and now we’re going to ask for the rest,” Snyder said.

Conner said Wednesday her attorney had warned her that some elements might be thrown out. Parts of her suit were filed under a statute that applies to state employees, which she has never been.

“So basically everything else was left in the lawsuit and we’ll have our day in court, and that’s exactly what I wanted.... I do not consider this a loss at all,” she told WAVE-TV of Louisville.

Patton said the lawsuit would eventually show he did nothing wrong as governor.

“I’m confident that the outcome will be I have in no way abused the office of governor,” Patton said after the ruling.

Lawmakers had objected to the state paying to defend the lawsuit, but officials said earlier that they were confident the state would be dismissed as a defendant.

Conner is the owner of the Birchtree Healthcare nursing home, which has gone into bankruptcy receivership. The state is seeking to revoke the license of the 116-bed facility because of what it claims are ongoing safety concerns.