Atlanta Mayor Requests Dismissal of Former Fire Chief’s Lawsuit

The city of Atlanta and Mayor Kasim Reed are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the city’s former fire chief who was fired after self-publishing a book that described homosexuality as a perversion.

Kelvin Cochran’s lawsuit said he was fired because he expressed his religious beliefs in the book, which he said he didn’t write in his capacity as fire chief. The lawsuit seeks lost wages, money for emotional distress and for costs associated with finding a new job.

Reed has previously said Cochran was fired in January because he gave the book to subordinates at work who hadn’t asked for it.

In a court filing last week, an attorney for the city argues Cochran fails to state a valid claim and asks the judge to dismiss the suit.