NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A settlement has been reached in a defamation lawsuit filed by former employees of Norfolk’s Community Services Board against the agency’s former director.

Maureen Womack began an internal review into how former administrative assistant Jill McGlone was paid a salary and benefits for 12 years after she was suspended without ever reporting for work. McGlone was eventually fired by Womack. The agency’s former acting director, Brenda Wise, was also fired and later indicted. The four people who sued Womack were also asked to leave the agency, but were cleared of any wrongdoing.

The lawsuit contends a news release issued by Womack in 2010 implied the employees who were forced to leave had been involved in wrongdoing.

The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/1snLhKl ) reports the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com

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