Judge Rules in Favor of Corrections Employee in Pay Dispute
- A judge sided with a Colorado Department of Corrections employee in an overpayment case.
- The employee was asked to return alleged overpaid money due to a payroll mistake.
- After months of fighting, the judge ruled in favor of the employee.
In a significant ruling, a Colorado judge has sided with Lawrence Cutts, a Department of Corrections (DOC) employee, who was ordered to repay thousands of dollars due to an alleged payroll error. The dispute arose after the DOC claimed that Cutts and other employees had been overpaid for an extended period, prompting repayment notices that left many in financial distress. Internal communications revealed that the department acknowledged the mistake but initially claimed state fiscal rules prevented them from forgiving the overpayments. Cutts, along with other affected employees, shared their experiences with CBS News Colorado, highlighting the impact of the unexpected repayment demands on their lives. One employee expressed the difficulty of adjusting their financial plans based on a paycheck that had been consistent for over a year. The DOC's initial agreement to forgive the overpayment was later retracted, leading to confusion and frustration among staff. The judge's ruling clarified that Cutts' position was a promotion rather than a transfer, entitling him to a 10% pay raise in accordance with DOC policy. As a result, Cutts will not only retain his position but also continue his new role as a police officer, which he has embraced enthusiastically. Meanwhile, the DOC declined to comment further on the case, although two other employees facing similar repayment demands are scheduled for hearings in the near future.