WINFIELD, W.Va. -- After a two-day trial, a Putnam County jury ruled this week against a former Hurricane city employee who said he was wrongfully terminated because of his  "whistleblower" status.

The jury denied Raymond D. Peak's civil lawsuit late Tuesday, after deliberating for about five hours. Peak, the son of former Hurricane mayor Raymond Peak, was the city's IT manger and benefits coordinator for the city of Hurricane.

Peak had been an employee of the city for about 20 years, but was laid off in August 2007.

He alleged in his suit that Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards wrongly targeted him because he disagreed with Edwards about a cell phone contract, which gave Peak whistleblower status.

His suit also stated City Councilman Donald Chaney wrongfully accused Peak and City Manager Ben Newhouse of playing golf on while on the city's clock. Chaney made these allegations during a public City Council meeting. It was later determined Peak and Newhouse had been on vacation when they were seen playing golf.

Chaney and Edwards made no effort to publicly clear Peak's name, despite a letter Peak sent to Edwards, Peak said. City Council members voted to eliminate his position at the next council meeting.

In his suit, Peak had asked for reinstatement and punitive damages.

Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers presided over the trial.

WINFIELD, W.Va. -- After a two-day trial, a Putnam County jury ruled this week against a former Hurricane city employee who said he was wrongfully terminated because of his  "whistleblower" status.

The jury denied Raymond D. Peak's civil lawsuit late Tuesday, after deliberating for about five hours. Peak, the son of former Hurricane mayor Raymond Peak, was the city's IT manger and benefits coordinator for the city of Hurricane.

Peak had been an employee of the city for about 20 years, but was laid off in August 2007.

He alleged in his suit that Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards wrongly targeted him because he disagreed with Edwards about a cell phone contract, which gave Peak whistleblower status.

His suit also stated City Councilman Donald Chaney wrongfully accused Peak and City Manager Ben Newhouse of playing golf on while on the city's clock. Chaney made these allegations during a public City Council meeting. It was later determined Peak and Newhouse had been on vacation when they were seen playing golf.

Chaney and Edwards made no effort to publicly clear Peak's name, despite a letter Peak sent to Edwards, Peak said. City Council members voted to eliminate his position at the next council meeting.

In his suit, Peak had asked for reinstatement and punitive damages.

Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers presided over the trial.