Tennessee Home spokesman Glen Casada claims he can not pay alimony

Tennessee House spokesman Glen Casada has told a judge that he can no longer afford to pay his alimony to his ex-wife, court records show.

Franklin lawmakers paid $ 4,000 a month in child support, which was set in the couple’s final divorce decree in 2017.

His attorney Sarah Perky wrote in a motion filed with the Williamson County Chancery Court that Casada could no longer make the payments.

“On or about May 15, Mr. Casada lost his job with Merck, which was its main source of income, which was a substantial and significant change in circumstances,” the motion states. “Given his advanced age and the circumstances of his unemployment, it is very unlikely that Mr Casada will be able to find similar employment.”

Casada has been involved in sexually explicit text messaging controversy and will step down from his role as House Speaker.

Casada was employed as a veterinary drug seller for the large pharmaceutical company. According to his expressions of interest, he has been with Merck since 2012.

But as the scandal unfolded, an adviser to Casada The Tennessean said Merck lawmakers had stepped down to focus on their job as a spokesman. Previously, he said he only wanted to work one more year to “bolster his retirement”.

MARRIED WORKPLACE:House spokesman Glen Casada is leaving the pharmaceutical company Merck. back

In June, Casada announced his resignation on August 2nd – his 60th birthday. Governor Bill Lee has called a special parliamentary term on August 23 to elect a new House Speaker.

Casada said he will not step down from his legislative seat but already has a challenger to the seat of the 63rd. Independent candidate and Williamson County School Board member Brad Fiscus announced his intention to run this week.

DISTRICT 63 RACES:Brad Fiscus, member of the Williamson School Board, challenges Casada in the 2020 State Race

Casada’s resignation as a speaker came after receiving a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives in May by the Republican House of Representatives amid a scandal that included mostly misogynistic text messages exchanged with his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, who resigned earlier this month. Cothren had also sent racist text messages admitting cocaine use in the legislature building.

As a speaker, Casada earned a monthly salary of $ 6,079. The speaker has an annual salary of nearly $ 73,000.

Ordinary lawmakers have a base salary of $ 24,300 per year, not including daily allowances.

The woman’s lawyer argues back

Attorney Rose Palermo – who represents Casada’s ex-wife – argued in a court file that the speaker’s legal team had not followed a “due process” to request a change or termination of child support.

Palermo also argued in response that a copy of the petition was not served on his ex-wife in June. Instead, Palermo said she received a copy of the petition on July 1. She then asked the court to reject the application in its entirety.

NewsChannel 5 first reported on Casada’s application to stop his alimony payments.

The retired District Court Judge Walter Kurtz will deal with the case from July 11th. All of the judges in the Williamson County court have withdrawn themselves.

Natalie Allison and Joel Ebert contributed to this report.

Reach Emily West at erwest@tennessean.com or 615-613-1380 and on Twitter at @ emwest22.

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