PALMER -- A Palmer Superior Court jury on Tuesday found the City of Houston was not acting in retaliation when officials fired former police captain Charley McAnally in 2011.
McAnally ? a few months later filed a civil lawsuit for wrongful termination against three city officials: Mayor Virgie Thompson, city council member Jim Johansen and treasurer Carolyn Grabowski.
During the two-week trial, McAnally claimed the officials turned against him after he accused Thompson and Grabowski of embezzlement. No criminal charges have ever been filed against the two.
The Houston officials said McAnally's firing was justified by several job performance problems including challenging a man to a fight while on duty.
Grabowski and Thompson hugged their attorneys in the hallway outside the courtroom after the verdict was read Tuesday afternoon.
"Finally, it's over!" Thompson said.
McAnally said during the trial that he filed a complaint with the FBI and the agency opened an investigation. But Thompson said the only FBI document entered as evidence was an assessment report indicating the agency was determining whether to open an investigation.
McAnally will appeal the decision, he said in a message after the verdict was read Tuesday afternoon.
His attorney, Ken Jacobus, said he planned to talk with his client about an appeal.
Jacobus called the verdict "very disappointing." He also said Houston's attorney, Danielle Ryman, did a good job.
McAnally was seeking $74,000 in lost wages plus additional damages to be established by the jury.