Veterans Commission director placed on leave

Larry Kay listens to Judge Jon Beetem at the opening of a lawsuit in which he is the defendant. The case of Pat Rowe Kerr vs. Larry Kay in Cole County Circuit Court started Monday and could last up to two weeks.
Larry Kay listens to Judge Jon Beetem at the opening of a lawsuit in which he is the defendant. The case of Pat Rowe Kerr vs. Larry Kay in Cole County Circuit Court started Monday and could last up to two weeks.

Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) Executive Director Larry Kay is on paid administrative leave a week after a Cole County jury found he and the commission were at fault in an age, gender and sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former MVC employee.

Daniel Bell, MVC public information officer, said Wednesday that Deputy Director Bryan Hunt is the acting executive director until further notice.

"We cannot comment further at this time as this is a personnel matter," Bell said.

The attorney general's office represented Kay and the commission in that lawsuit and referred reporters to the MVC "for any comments on its actions."

Kay is paid $105,408 a year, according to information posted on the state's Accountability Portal, mapyourtaxes.mo.gov.

A week ago, Cole County jurors awarded $1.3 million in actual damages and $1.575 million in punitive damages to former outreach director Pat Rowe Kerr, who was dismissed in November 2009.

She sued the state agency in July 2011, claiming discrimination and harassment over her dismissal.

Kay and the commission had said her dismissal was due to budget cuts at the time.

Last Friday, state Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton - and a member of the Veterans Commission - called for Kay to step down in the wake of the $2.875 million jury verdict.

"The person heading the Missouri Veterans Commission needs to be fair-minded and focused on the needs of veterans," Sifton said. "I do not see how Larry Kay can continue to lead this important agency in light of the jury's decision."

Sifton told the News Tribune on Wednesday he had no further comment on Kay's position or the commission's actions.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported this week that commissioners held a closed-door meeting Monday on a personnel issue.

Kay could not be reached Wednesday for a comment for this story.

Previous coverage

Senator calls for MVC director's resignation, July 22, 2016

Kerr wins discrimination suit against Veterans Commission, July 22, 2016

Kay back on stand to defend actions, July 21, 2016

Kerr-Kay trial ends seventh day, July 20, 2016

Kerr's lawyers rest case; defense testimony begins, July 19, 2016

Kay defends termination of Kerr, July 15, 2016

Budget constraints questioned during Kerr trial, July 14, 2016

Kerr testifies as trial continues, July 13, 2016

Kerr's harassment suit spills into court, July 12, 2016

Pat Rowe-Kerr sues Veterans Commission, Kay on several issues, July 26, 2011