CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Cabarrus County plans to settle a lawsuit with former County Manager Mike Downs over nearly half a million dollars in unpaid compensation, according to court documents.

The settlement adds another layer of drama to the ongoing turmoil in the Cabarrus County Manager's Office, where two managers have been fired within seven months of each other.

Downs claims the county owes him $488,000. The suit states that the severance, salary and bonus should have been paid Jan. 31, shortly after his abrupt firing in January. It also said that Downs is owed the money even if he was fired with cause.

New court documents show a hearing this week was cancelled because the "parties have reached a resolution of this matter and require additional time to finalize the settlement docum

See Full Page