Fact check: What happened to Detective Jeff Payne's lawsuit for illegal termination?

1. Summary of the results

Detective Jeff Payne filed a lawsuit against the Salt Lake City Police Department on October 11, 2019 ^[1]. Initially seeking over $300,000 in damages ^[1], the amount was later increased to $1.5 million ^[2]. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, wrongful termination, defamation, and false light publicity ^[1]. As of the latest information available, Payne is still in the process of appealing his termination with the civil service commission ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original question:

• Payne was fired on October 11, 2017, after an internal investigation found he had violated six separate staff policies during an incident with nurse Alex Wubbels ^[3]
• Police Chief Mike Brown specifically cited "absence of professional judgment" in Payne's termination letter ^[3]
• After his termination, Payne found employment as a part-time civilian corrections assistant in Weber County ^[3]
• Payne argues his firing was "extremely excessive" and believes he should have been offered training instead of termination ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's framing as "illegal termination" shows potential bias, as this characterization is contested:

• The Police Department's perspective: They conducted an internal investigation that found multiple policy violations ^[3]
• Payne's perspective: He claims he was following orders from his commanding officer and department policies ^[1]
• Financial stakes: Payne is seeking significant compensation ($1.5 million) for lost wages, benefits, emotional distress, and defamation of character ^[4], and claims his life has been "destroyed" by the incident ^[2]

The truth likely lies somewhere between these competing narratives, with both sides having significant financial and reputational interests in their respective positions.