Oregon Public Broadcasting

A former staffer for Portland Mayor Sam Adams has notified the city of his intent to sue for alleged damage to his reputation.

Wade Nkrumah was a longtime reporter at the Oregonian newspaper who went to work as Sam Adams communications director.

When Adams was forced to reveal a sexual relationship with a teenager, Nkrumah was on the front line, dealing with a firestorm of media queries.

A week after the story broke, Nkrumah quit. When Adams was asked about his former spokesman, he told a TV reporter something that became the basis for Nkrumah's tort claim. He said the job was not what Nkrumah has signed up for, in terms of stress.

Michael Hanlon:  "The fact that stress was even mentioned indicates in some form an inability to perform the duties."

Michael Hanlon is Wade Nkrumah's attorney. He says Nkrumah specifically told Adams he resigned because he felt Adams lied to him about his personal conduct. And he believes Adams' comments sully his professional reputation.

He's seeking two years' compensation as damages - a total of $162,000.

There's been no comment from the city on these claims.