Hamilton County paid more than half a million dollars to defend former sheriff’s deputy Daniel Wilkey, who may be the most sued employee in the county’s history on record, litigation expenses show.
Through an open records request, the Chattanooga Times Free Press obtained county accounting records that show it cost $543,000 to cover Wilkey’s attorney fees.
Chattanooga attorney J. Micha Guster III was paid about $488,000 from March 2020 to April 2023. Then, from May 2023 to February 2024, the law firm Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel was paid almost $55,000.
The money came from the general budget, which is funded by county taxpayers, Assistant County Attorney Sharon Milling said by email.
Wilkey was listed as a defendant in his capacity as a county deputy in 10 separate federal lawsuits.