er, claims in a lawsuit she filed in September in Jefferson Circuit Court that Patton provided state assistance to her nursing home, Birchtree Healthcare, and to another company she owned, ST Construction. She also said the governor helped her personally by appointing her to the Institute on Aging and the Kentucky lottery board.
             Conner has since alleged that she had received tips before her nursing home was to be inspected by the state.
             Conner also says that Patton later punished her by having state inspectors crack down on her nursing home in Clinton after she broke off the two-year affair.
             Patton, who initially denied the affair before acknowledging it in September consistently has said he has not misused his office in any way.
             Conner's lawsuit names the state as well as Patton as a defendant.
             The state has not yet hired a defense team, but it is telling prospective attorneys that the state might have to file a claim against Patton if a court ordered the state to pay damages to Conner, said Jil
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