EAST VALLEY -- On Monday former East Valley fire chief told Action News he rejected the severance package fire commissioner's offered him, because it meant he couldn't file a lawsuit against the district or anyone connected.

The fire district's attorney said the rejection could mean taking back Warren Gay's resignation and firing him instead.

Gay told Action News by phone he wouldn't allow anything to stand in the way of his intention to file a lawsuit against the district.

"What will happen if I don't get my job back is that I'm going to enter in a lawsuit against the district," he told KIMA last month just four weeks after he was put on paid-leave. "What happens if I get my job back is I'm going to enter in a lawsuit against the fire district."

Gay's bosses, Commissioners Joe Gendron, Les Riel and Dan McNulty, put him on paid-leave after two of the chief's employees claimed he'd created a hostile work environment.

Gay resigned two weeks ago. He and the commissioners were supposed to agree on a severance package.

The former fire chief had until Monday at noon to accept it.

But Gay told Action News he's not buying the commissioners offer of 6 months pay, and that statement he gave to KIMA explains it all.

If he signed the severance package, he said, he would also have to agree never to sue the fire district or anyone connected.

The chief said he'd rather lose the money than go down without a fight.

He's planning to wage this battle in court with a jury deciding if he was pushed out of his seat.

Not accepting that severance package could also mean Gay's resignation's unaccepted by the district and give them the green light to fire Gay instead of accepting his resignation and formally. Gay said that's going to hurt his chances to be hired somewhere else, but he'll do what it takes to send the district to court.

Sources say the East Valley fire district is already near its budget for how much is set aside for attorney fees each year.

The chair of the commissioners, Joe Gendron, did not return our calls.