An off-the-record, pretrial hearing took place between the attorneys for Alpena County Sheriff Steve Kieliszewski and former undersheriff Terry King. The conference call on routine matters took place with Judge George Mertz of the 46th Circuit Court, who will reside over the civil suit.

Judge Michael Mack of the 26th Circuit Court recused himself from the case, as he is listed in King’s lawsuit as a potential witness.

King is suing Kieliszewski and the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office for $25,000 he claims he deserves for lost wages and the impacts from being forced to resign from his job because he was, he claims, a whistleblower on some issues that troubled him.

Kieliszewski and King are slated to run against one another for sheriff next year.