Longtime Gene Stipe aide files lawsuit

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Former state Senator <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Gene Stipe">Gene Stipe</a></b>'s longtime assistant has sued him

Wednesday, June 22nd 2005, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Former state Senator Gene Stipe's longtime assistant has sued him for allegedly stopping payments on a $200,000 employment contract.

Charlene Spears joined Stipe in pleading guilty in a campaign scandal that ended the McAlester Democrat's political career. But the lawsuit states she continued handling Stipe's business interests after both left his former law firm, where she worked for more than two decades.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Pittsburg County, says Stipe promised that Spears would be "taken care of," and that his concern for her future security grew after he fell ill in 2003.

In lieu of a retirement, it states, Stipe and Spears agreed to an employment contract in March 2004. The lawsuit states that monthly payments of $6,300 continued until last month.