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

Fighting wage theft on your own can be stressful and difficult, which is why it is a good idea to consult an experienced employment lawyer

Bay Area Subway Franchisee Faces Closure and $1 Million Penalty for Wage Theft

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered a 14-unit Subway franchisee in the San Francisco Bay Area to either close or sell their stores. The employers must pay…

READ ARTICLE
Firefighting apparel

Bay Area Fire District Pays $100,000 Settlement for Withdrawing Job Offer Based on Applicant’s Criminal Record

The Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District (MOFD) agreed to pay nearly $97,500 to settle a case brought against it by a job applicant. The settlement, announced by the California Civil Rights Department, stems…

READ ARTICLE
Delivery worker scanning package in warehouse

Deaf FedEx Package Handler Gets $2 Million in Disability Discrimination Case

A former package handler at FedEx Ground who is deaf won a $2 million jury award in a disability discrimination lawsuit. The case highlights the need for employers to proactively address workers’…

READ ARTICLE
Rideshare pickup zone

What the California Supreme Court’s Decision in the Uber Lawsuit Means for Gig Workers

For years, there has been an ongoing struggle between maintaining the convenience and flexibility of the gig economy and protecting the rights of workers who try to make a living within its…

READ ARTICLE
SEEN ON
Fox40-bw
KPIX-bw
SFGate-bw
marin-ij
Abc10-bw