Collin County is lawyering up as it engages with a federal lawsuit filed Oct. 31 in the Northern District Court of Texas.

The initial lawsuit alleges that Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis “created a toxic workplace by targeting female employees to try to flirt with or to direct outright sexual advances.” It also alleges First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye’s office is run like  “a crass, misogynistic fraternity” that has “systemic hazing of the county’s attorneys, investigators and staff.”

Willis has previously denied claims of wrongdoing in his Nov. 16 press conference at the County Courthouse.

Also named as defendants in the suit are County Judge Chris Hill and county commissioners  Darrell Hale, Susan Fletcher, Cheryl Williams and Duncan Webb.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are current and former employees of the county and include: Chief Investigator Kim Pickrell, Deputy Chief Investigator Keith Henslee, former prosecutor Fallon LaFleur, prosecutor Vykim Le, former receptionist Jane Doe 1, and former communications director Jane Doe 2.

During the Nov. 14 commissioner’s court meeting, a letter of engagement to represent the county was considered as part of the consent agenda. The law firm the county is engaging for its defense is Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd, and Hullett, P.C.

According to a copy of the engagement letter attached in the meeting agenda, the hourly cost for a director-level attorney is $375, $250 for an associate attorney and $125 for legal assistants or legal interns. The county will be billed monthly for incurred expenses.

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