Kelly Responds to Lawsuit

Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly has responded to a lawsuit recently filed against by an employee in the clerk’s office.

Thursday afternoon, she released this statement:

“While I am disappointed in my employee choosing to file her employment lawsuit a week before the busiest time of the year for our County Clerk’s Office, I am confident the facts will prove these claims to be groundless. Right now my primary focus is doing the best I can to serve the citizens of Houghton County as their clerk during election week.”

Beverly Smith launched the lawsuit against Kelly Monday, alleging that she was mistreated and defamed as an employee. See our story about the suit here.

The suit was filed by the Eliason Law Office in Hancock, which also represents Kelly’s opponent in Tuesday’s election, Justin Kasieta. Kasieta is accused of being party to an early morning phone call to Kelly in March, in which Kelly says she was threatened. The Michigan Attorney General’s office is reviewing that case.