Former Butler County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton said this afternoon he is suing former Commissioner Jim Eckstein because he wants his reputation back.

Pinkerton said in county court that Eckstein went too far in spreading a rumor that Pinkerton gave a kickback to get out of a drunken driving stop.

Pinkerton also accused of Eckstein of planning the times he expressed outrage for effect.

Eckstein is accused of spreading the rumor that Pinkerton gave county human resources director an extra 20 percent pay hike in 2011 in exchange for the DUI stop going away. Altman’s husband, Scott Altman, is a state trooper.

Pinkerton and the Altmans are suing Eckstein in separate lawsuits being tried simultaneously in court.

All sides agree there was no DUI stop, but they are arguing the extent of Eckstein’s involvement in the rumor’s proliferation.