VAN ALSTYNE--- Former Fire Chief Landon smith is suing the city of Van Alstyne on several grounds, including breach of contract and defamation. Smith was let go in late July after Mayor Larry Cooper told us Smith spent as much as 180 thousand dollars over his budget.

  

But Smith's suit disputes those claims, saying “In the week following his termination representatives of the City began making false disparaging and unsupportable statements about smith to the media.”

When we talked to the mayor last month he said smith was a great employee but his budget was being questioned.

"As I said with his determination to do what he needs to do to build the department that he wants. Well we just can’t afford that right now. And I know I regret so deeply and the city manager regrets this parting of ways with Landon Smith,” Mayor Larry Cooper said.

Smith lawsuit is asking for 200 thousand dollars.