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WARRICK CO., Ind. (WFIE) - Legal battles in Warrick County continued Wednesday as three Health Board officials fought for reinstatement for a second time.

Three former Warrick County Board of Health officials removed late last year are pushing back after a judge said they didn’t have the power to reinstate them in April.

With the county’s health department in what employees describe as a state of chaos, these former board members say their reinstatement is more important than ever.

“All of this because they wouldn’t terminate Aaron Franz,” said former Warrick County Board of Health member, Mark Phillips.

Sixteen days in court and thousands of dollars in legal fees have piled up after Warrick County commissioners removed Board of Health members Dr. Ken Parker, Dr. Jeff Mauck and Joye Brown. Six months later, those three are still fighting to get their positions back.

“None of this process is good for the county,” said Warrick County attorney, Andrew Skinner. “Litigation is never good for anybody, it should always be a last resort when nothing else works, and it’s been a costly endeavor to the citizens of Warrick County

When a judge ruled in April that Indiana Law did not provide a pathway for the health board members to be reinstated, County representatives claimed victory.

“This is a resounding win for them,” said Anthony Long, Warrick County Commissioner Representation.

Despite accusations surrounding a health department whistleblower, County Attorney Andrew Skinner says commissioners removed Dr. Parker, Dr. Mauck and Brown because they failed to perform their duties.

“The commissioners certainly did not take office and never intended to take office and have to go through something like this,” said Skimmer. “To have to go through court proceedings and question their motives.

Mark Phillips, the lawyer for the health board members, defends the three in that they did nothing wrong.

Phillips says reinstating the three former health board members now is in the public’s best interest.

“We continue to see a health board operation that just is sort of a runaway train,” Phillips said.

Employees tell 14 News that the department is chaos. Changes by the new health board have since caused disruptions in county operations.

“The county coroner continues to plead with the people in charge to do the right thing, to not strip her of her ability to address vital public health needs, and so disorder doesn’t change that,” said Phillips.

Still, the judge found for a second time he could not reinstate the health board member’s positions.

While an appeals process is imminent, county officials say the health department is moving on without them.

“It hasn’t been easy, but they are on track to provide services to this community and expand those services in a big way,” said Skimmer.

The three health board members who lost their job late last year, have lost a second bid to get their jobs back. They say that with how bad things have gotten at the Warrick County Health Department, they are going to keep fighting.