The employees were awarded more than $1.5 million. All were part of the department's elite special operation response team.
The suit claimed response team was disbanded two weeks after the 2006 primary election because they supported Tom Dart's opponent in the race.
"They were harmed, not only by the disbanding of their team, but denied promotion, retaliated against, harassed, disciplined, one disciplined despite a court order for attending the trial," said plantiffs' attorney Dana Kurtz.
Dart issued a statement, saying, "This case has never been about retaliation for violating someone's rights; this decision has always been about holding employees accountable for their actions and doing what is right ... that is why we feel very confident in appealing this decision."
