DETROIT — Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano is being sued by former Deputy Executive Azzam Elder for $25 million following Elder’s dismissal for his role in November 2011’s severance package controversy surrounding former Metro Airport CEO Turkia Mullin.

Ficano spoke on Monday about Elder’s suit, saying at Romulus High School during a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday rally that he believes he will be successful fighting the suit.

He added that he wished Elder “would take more responsibility for his actions” according to a local CBS affiliate.  Elder claims in his lawsuit that Ficano covered up many other severance deals with other county employees after the Mullin controversy.