A former employee in the Nebraska treasurer's office has filed a lawsuit against the state alleging he was directed to illegally create a computer program to prohibit employees from claiming overtime.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Lancaster County District Court says Robert Harrison was hired by the state in December 2007 as a database and Web developer.

Harrison, of Lincoln, says the directive came in February. He says he protested to state Treasurer Shane Osborn, among other officials.

Harrison says his bosses retaliated, first asking him to resign and then transferring him to a temporary position filing paperwork.

His attorney alleges Harrison was forced out of the job after he refused the transfer and wouldn't resign.

Nebraska State Treasurer Shane Osborn says he believes his office will be fully exonerated once the facts emerge in a case involving a former employee.

Osborn says he can't comment on the specifics of the case, but called the lawsuit unfortunate.

He says he's very confident the facts will reveal no wrongdoing by his office.

A Nebraska public employees union leader says if allegations involving pay and retaliation issues lodged today against the state treasurer's office are proven true, he hopes Osborn would resign.

Mike Marvin of the local chapter of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees called the case disgusting.