Former City Clerk Awarded Over $3 Million in Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
A jury in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, has awarded over $3 million to a former city clerk of Good Thunder. The former clerk, Ashney Helleksen, sued the city, alleging she was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for cooperating with a state…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, July 28, 2026 —
A jury in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, has awarded former Good Thunder City Clerk Ashney Helleksen more than $3 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Helleksen sued the city, alleging that her termination was in retaliation for her cooperation with a state investigation into the city’s mayor. The investigation reportedly concerned allegations of embezzlement and financial misconduct against the mayor.
The jury’s decision, reached in Blue Earth County, found in favor of Helleksen, awarding damages exceeding $3 million. The specifics of the financial misconduct allegations against the mayor were central to Helleksen’s claim that her subsequent firing was an act of retaliation.
Details regarding the exact timeline of events, including when Helleksen began cooperating with the state investigation and the date of her termination, were not immediately available. The specific outcomes of the state investigation into the mayor were also not provided.
The lawsuit centered on the legal principle that employees should be protected from retaliation when they report or assist in investigations of illegal or unethical activities within their workplace. Helleksen’s legal team presented evidence to the jury that supported her claim of retaliatory termination.
The city of Good Thunder has not yet released an official statement regarding the jury’s verdict. Information on whether the city intends to appeal the decision was not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Kyle Brown on kstp.com, see more information here.
