The new CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, under fire for accepting a $200,000 severance, was sued three times over allegations of professional misconduct when she worked as a private attorney.

The civil suits claim Turkia Mullin breached ethics when she represented both buyers and sellers in the sale of gas stations that were backed by federal funds. Some of the principals in the deals later were indicted or convicted for fraud after taxpayers lost $26 million on failed Small Business Administration loans.

Mullin wasn't charged and didn't face professional sanctions.

But some involved in the deals accused her of wrongdoing in civil court, and one questions why airport officials named her in August to the post that pays $250,000 per year.