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SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A federal jury has awarded a former veterans affairs director $200,000 in his lawsuit against a northeastern Pennsylvania county and two former commissioners. The jury found on Thursday that former Luzerne County Veterans Affairs Director Richard Wren's political associations were a "substantial or motivating factor" in his firing. The 57-year-old was fired after he submitted an altered receipt for reimbursement. But Wren claimed the commissioners used the incident as an excuse to fire him because he supported a political adversary of the commissioners who fired him. Wren's attorney, Kim Borland, says they're pleased with the jury's verdict. County Manager David Pedri says the county will review the matter with its attorneys.

Jury awards ex-veterans affairs official $200K in lawsuit