Don Benton, an outgoing state senator and former Clark County department head, has filed a lawsuit against the county with two other former employees alleging that they experienced retaliation and threats for opposing a “hostile, intimidating and abusive environment.”

The complaint, filed in Clark County Superior Court on Wednesday, concerns Benton’s controversial tenure as the director of the county’s now-defunct Department of Environmental Services. The lawsuit targets County Manager Mark McCauley and alleges that he interfered with Benton’s management of the department by undermining his budget, morale and hiring decisions.

The lawsuit also alleges that Christopher Clifford, former DES program coordinator, and Susan Rice, former DES administrative assistant, experienced retaliation for aligning themselves with Benton, who increasingly found himself at odds with McCauley and other county officials.

The complaint was filed by Portland lawyer Thomas Boothe, who didn’t return a call seeking comment.

The lawsuit does not specify damages, but tort claims — which are typically precursors to litigation — were filed with the county on the behalf of Benton and Clifford in October sought $2 million each and another seeking $1 million for Rice. McCauley told The Columbian that the county didn’t respond to the claims.