MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- A federal discrimination complaint filed against Rutherford County Property Assessor Bill Boner has been dismissed on a technicality, but the two former employees could refile their complaints in federal or state court.

The dismissal and notice of rights was issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to former property assessor employees Janie Zumbro and Kathy Dumm, who claimed that Boner fired them in retaliation for complaints about sexually inappropriate comments in the office.

An attorney for Boner told The Daily News Journal the complaints were dismissed probably because he is an elected official.

Boner denied the allegations and said he was pleased with the dismissal. But Rob Mitchell, who is running against Boner in the August election, said the dismissal doesn't mean Boner is innocent of the complaints.