At least according to Superior Court Judge Lindsay Davis, who threw out part of a harassment suit by former Forsyth County Board of Elections employees under the state’s whistle-blower law.

Three employees filed the suit against Elections Director Rob Coffman, claiming Coffman “caused emotional distress” by displaying “humiliating, degrading, insulting and unprofessional conduct.” In defending Coffman, Forsyth County asked the court to dismiss the whistle-blower claim because the statute protects only state employees, although it is still not clear whether Board of elections employees are state or county employees.

Four other claims against Coffman are still pending, however.