Butler County Human Resources director Lori Altman testified Friday that her entire view of Butler County and the environment in which she works has changed since rumors spread in 2012 alleging she and her husband were involved in a kickback scheme with former county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton.

Altman and her husband, along with Pinkerton, have sued former County Commissioner Jim Eckstein, alleging defamation, intentional infliction of harm and being placed in a false light.

Testifying Friday, Altman said that her view of the county — a place where she said she loved to work and has been a public employee since 1997 — has changed since March 9, 2012.

That’s the day, Altman testified, when Sheriff Mike Slupe called and told her investigators from the state attorney general’s office were in town looking into allegations that her husband, state police Trooper Scott Altman, had fixed a DUI pullover for then-commissioner Pinkerton in exchange for her getting an extra 20 percent raise.

“It’s always a good place to work. Politics is not as evil as you see it today. The commissioners got along. They made changes. It wasn’t this hostile environment,” Altman testified.

She said that attitude, which her attorney Al Lindsay called “idealistic,” was dramatically altered by a “rumor mill” in county government that was stoked by Eckstein and the allegations he is accused of spreading.

“It changed over the years since the phone call (from Slupe),” Altman testified. “It’s tough to be in this atmosphere of a lot of evil doings.”

Earlier in the day, Pinkerton’s Butler physician, Dr. Michael Wahl, testified the then-commissioner suffered physical ailments due to stress caused by the rumor of a corrupt deal.

Wahl said Pinkerton developed shingles, a rash twice and sleep deprivation. The doctor said the reoccurrence of a rash in 2014 was telling.

“The stress was getting worse due to dealing with the commissioner (Eckstein) and the lawsuit,” Wahl said.

The doctor said the shingles, a painful viral infection, significantly impacted Pinkerton.

“It was rather debilitating to him for a few weeks,” Wahl said.

He said Pinkerton also had to be prescribed an antidepressant at one point.

Eckstein’s attorney, Timothy Wojton, pointed out Pinkerton had other health issues, including sleep apnea and diabetes, before the rumor arose.

Wahl was asked why he didn’t suggest to Pinkerton he resign from his commissioner post if stress was the root of his health problems.

“He finished his term,” Wojton said.

After Wahl and before Altman, Eckstein took the stand again. Lindsay stressed Eckstein couldn’t wait to spread the rumor once he heard the state attorney general’s office was involved.

“You went on a spree telling people about the AG investigation,” Lindsay said.

Eckstein defended his contacting various people about it.

“It’s my civic duty,” he said. “That’s what we do in the United States of America.”

Lindsay said Eckstein’s motivation was political.

“The reason you told all these people is you wanted the public to know your nemesis, Dale Pinkerton, is under investigation by the attorney general’s office for corruption,” Lindsay said.

Eckstein denied he had malicious intent.

“I did it because it’s my job,” he said.

Eckstein stressed he never said Pinkerton was guilty.

“I never said I came to any conclusion,” he said.

At one point, Eckstein’s lawyers moved that presiding Judge Kelley Streib declare a mistrial, saying a line of questioning by Pinkerton’s attorney, Doug Linn, about legal fees Eckstein incurred over the four-year course of the litigation crossed into prejudicial and improper territory.

But the judge denied the motion, saying Eckstein himself broached the subject in prior testimony, so she was obligated to allow cross examination.

Eckstein testified that he incurred about $50,000 in legal fees so far, and that he would attempt to recoup that money from the Altmans and Pinkerton if he prevails in the current trial.

The defendant struggled at times to answer questions and continued quibbling over the substance and timing of remarks he made before the attorney general’s investigation.

Eckstein also challenged a state police internal investigation that cited him saying there was a DUI arrest. He insisted he never alleged it was true.

When Eckstein reiterated it was his duty to tell people about the attorney general investigation, Linn was incredulous.

“Do you think it is your civic duty to spread rumors?” Linn asked.

The trial is set to resume Monday.