SECRET DRUG TASK FORCE DEAL CHALLENGED

At Issue Is Settlement Of Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Harassment

HOPKINSVILLE - A newspaper is seeking a court order to force the
release of a confidential settlement between a former drug task force
employee, the agency and its director.

The Kentucky New Era filed a motion Wednesday in Christian Circuit
Court asking a judge to unseal the court file in a sexual harassment
lawsuit against the task force and its director, Cheyenne Albro.

Attorneys representing the parties named in the suit told the New Era
last month that a settlement had been reached with the plaintiff,
Teresa Cannon, and the defendants, but declined to release the terms.
Earlier this month, special Judge John W. Potter, who was appointed to
preside in the case, issued a court order dismissing the case and
imposed a confidentiality provision that stopped all parties from
discussing the terms reached.

The newspaper contends that, because the task force is a public agency
and Albro a public employee, the terms of the settlement should be
open for public review.

Ashley Pack, a Louisville lawyer who specializes in First Amendment
rights and represents newspapers belonging to the Kentucky Press
Association, said confidentiality requests should not be granted in
cases that name public agencies as a party.

"It's actually wrong. Courts shouldn't do that," she said.

Cannon claimed in the lawsuit that Albro sexually harassed her until
Jan. 27, 2003, and fired her from work at that time through a written
letter of termination. The task force has denied the allegations.