Wisconsin appeals court says Scocos lawsuit can go on

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court says a lawsuit that former Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos filed against the state may continue.

Scocos had been dismissed by the Board of Veterans Affairs in 2009, shortly after he returned from military service in Iraq.

Board members said Scocos was let go because of problems at the agency he had led since 2003. Scocos sued, alleging a violation of his right to return to his job following a military deployment.

The state acknowledged that Scocos had the right to retain his job. But the state also argued that it had “sovereign immunity” from a law protecting such workers from being fired with cause.

The court said Thursday the state’s argument wasn’t persuasive.

Scocos has since been reappointed to head Veterans Affairs.