Richmond city employee wins 104K dollars in whistleblower retaliation case
A Richmond employee was awarded $104,000 to settle a lawsuit against the city after alleging her employers retaliated against her for attempting to report misconduct in 2012.
Stacie Plummer, 27, filed the claim in 2014 against Richmond city, former Human Resources Director Leslie Knight, City Manager Bill Lindsay and two current employees. According to the lawsuit, Plummer was penalized for exposing the alleged misuse of city funds and other illegal practices.
Plummer complained to Lindsay and other city officials about employees purchasing personal items with city-issued credit cards. She also claimed numbers were misrepresented in a federal grant for funding internet broadband in low-income Richmond neighborhoods. In addition, the city employee accused Knight of spending 30 percent of her workday on running her personal business, along with using city cars while improperly collecting a $450 monthly vehicle allowance.
Plummer’s superiors failed to take appropriate action in response to her allegations. Lindsay allowed Knight to remain head of human resources before she retired several months after the investigation. Plummer claimed her career suffered between 2012 and 2014 when she was removed from her job duties after reporting the alleged wrongdoing. The finance manager said she had been deliberately overlooked for raises or promotions while other less-qualified employees were promoted.
The lawsuit claimed Knight violated anti-retaliation policy by asking another worker to look through Plummer’s email after she filed the complaint. The allegation was proven during a separate investigation that also verified certain parts of Plummer’s claims. The Mayor’s Office released a statement on February 9 saying the city had decided to settle the lawsuit “based upon the likely cost of defense and the cost of trial.” However, the city did not admit to wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
[footer block_id=’778′]
Read more
Disney Settles Gender Pay Lawsuit for $43 Million, Impacting Thousands of Female Workers
Across industries, workers often face pay disparities that can lead to financial struggles, stress and a sense of injustice. Unfortunately, unequal pay is not uncommon, even at some of the largest and…
Radisson Hotel in Oakland Sued for Alleged Wage Theft of Over $400K: Key Takeaways for Workers
Fair wages are a fundamental right for California workers. However, unpaid wages continue to affect employees in the hospitality industry and other sectors. Wage theft occurs when employers illegally deny workers the…
Oakland’s $2.6 Million Wake-Up Call: Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a reality that far too many employees face, and the recent $2.6 million jury verdict against the city of Oakland sheds light on this persistent issue….
Fighting for Fair Treatment: A Closer Look at the AAA Age Discrimination Case
Imagine dedicating decades of your life to a company, climbing the ranks through hard work, building a loyal client base and consistently earning top performance awards, only to find yourself abruptly terminated….
SEEN ON
