A former Deputy City Attorney for the City of Jackson says she was fired in December 2014 because she was white. Lara Gill sued Jackson in U.S. District Court Wednesday for damages suffered caused by her wrongful termination and discrimination.
Ms. Gill was a Deputy City Attorney from July, 2008 to December, 2014. She worked in the Litigation Division. Ms. Gill states she questioned some of the practices of the new administration shortly after it took office in May, 2014. City Attorney Monica Joiner "restructured" the office and moved Ms. Gill from Litigation to Municipal Court. Ms. Gill argued she was the most experienced litigator and had no experience in criminal prosecutions. Ms. Gill is also white. She asked why she was being transferred when black deputy city attorneys "with less litigation experience but municipal court experience was not transferred." Then the real fun started:
19. The first day that Gill went to the Prosecutor's office to begin her "reassignment" work, Gill was unable to access her old office located at the City Attorney's Office. Gill was later advised that the City Attorney had the locks changed to the doors to where Gill's old office was located, and further advised that the locks being changed was a "new policy" the City Attorney had instituted.
20. On December 2, 2014, approximately two days after Gill presented herself to work at the prosecutor's office, Gill received a memo from the City Attorney making various allegations against Gill and requesting Gill to respond in less than 24 hours. Gill requested additional time from the City Attorney to respond to the December 2, 2014 Memo, but was refused. Gill responded to City Attorney's December 2, 2014 Memo the best she could within the limited time she was provided.
21. One day later, and on December 3, 2014, Gill received an intent to terminate letter from the City Attorney, and was placed on administrative leave with pay.
22. Gill requested review of her termination with the disciplinary action review committee (DARC) for the City.
23. Gill was given a pre-termination hearing before the DARC on December 16, 2014, and terminated that very same day.
24. In January of 2015, the Defendants unlawfully denied Gill benefits under COBRA.
Ms. Gill alleges the city fired her because she was white and she voiced concerns about some of the new policies and procedures. A MDES administrative law judge ruled she was entitled to receive unemployment benefits and that the City Attorney "failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Gill was guilty of misconduct warranting termination."
The city appealed the decision to the MDES Board of Review and lost. The city then took the fight to Hinds County Circuit Court and lost. The city did not appeal Judge Bill Gowan's ruling. Ms. Gill filed an EEOC complaint and received permission to sue Jackson. Ms. Gill seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Ms. Gill represents herself. The case is assigned to Judge Henry Wingate.
Kingfish note: Who will rip off first? Mollie or Jerry?
41 comments:
Looks like another former disgruntled city employee! Lara Gill is a pretty lady...I wonder why Yarber didn't offer to allow her to keep her job in exchange for sex. Oh I know, he knows who he can exploit--single mothers, underemployed workers, women with children or family members who need medical benefits/health insurance.
Please get his sorry ass out of office now!!
I guess there is nothing we can do...or maybe we can. If there are some of those Second Amendment people out there....
I apologize for acting like Trump, but I needed some comic relief. This administration has been the worst I've seen in my 30 years in Jackson...Yes, even worse than Harvey Johnson's multiple terms.
"City Black Administration Matter"
Give it all to them because when the money runs out the only finger that will be pointing will be from the outside pointing in. "Ya'll stay away now, hear???"
Sounds like a very smart lady, I wish her well.
Yarber is quickly cementing his place among the worst mayors Jackson has ever had. No small feat.
Irony. White employee being discriminated against. Jackson will not have any money to squat with once this administration gets done paying out. If I was Ashby Foote I would resign my post and run like hell to the Pearl River bridge and move to Flowood.
kudos to Ms Gill
This is disappointing. I had such high hopes for Yarber and his administration. Changing the locks on the doors and then ramming through a list of charges is provocative to say the least. Is this administration that hostile to certain people?
Sad.
Yarber should apply for a job at DPS after his election bid fails, he's their kinda folk!
Jerry will have no interest. The plaintiff is white. He doesn't do discrimination unless the aggrieved is black and the base to which he panders is also black. We won't hear from Minor or Joe Dove either.
Who was/is the City Attorney in question?
'Denied COBRA'? How did they even THINK that would fly? COBRA is a federal entitlement bestowed on folks who qualify.
The City and it's leaders, having been given bad legal advice, assumed it could discharge an exempt employee for any reason or no reason at all. That is true....however....the second part of that federal law says, 'as long as the reason is not an illegal one'.
She has clearly established a good case by pointing out that the employer retained (in the position she wanted to remain in) one or more black employees with less training and time on the job in that position.
11:17 Who is Jerry?
Geez Yarber and his folks are proving to be total and complete morons. I mean, past the point of stupidity. Total incompetence. They spend more time trying to hide shit then they do working!
STATEMENT FROM THE CITY OF JACKSON
The City of Jackson is outraged by these scurrilous, outrageous, low down dirty allegations. The claims of this so-called "former employee" are nothing but lies, with a foundation as thin as body paint on a stripper. The City looks forward to proving in a court of law that it has nothing but respect for the many fine crackers who live and work here. Further, we will explore all potential claims and counter-allegations against this white she-devil, including charges relating to her theft of two Bic ballpoint pens for personal use.
per the headline: what color is she now?
I tend to believe this woman's story. As evidence, I would submit to you that the Mayor may be racist. I mean how come he hasn't sexually harrassed/had an affair with any white women? I think that is discriminatory.
I was not going to respond to this blog ever again but---I have lived in Jackson for over 70 years and race relations now are worse than the 60's and 70's. I have been told that the black leaders of Jackson do not want white people involved in anything because the blacks are in control now. LOOK WHERE THAT ATTITUDE HAS GOTTEN YOU !!! Several black individuals have told me there is so much corruption going on at City Hall that if the existing honest blacks do not go along with it they will be fired. I guess when they run every white person and a few more blacks out of here, they will be happy. An enormous number of blacks now live in Madison, Ridgeland, Brandon and Flowood---I guess they just could not take it anymore.
@1:28
That's the first decent comment I've ever read on this site.
The city attorney in this lawsuit is Monica Joiner. The same Monica Joiner named in yesterday's lawsuit. The person who Bracey moved in with, who Bracey says was having a relationship with Yarber at the same time she was.
Next time you go to city Hall, I suggest you wear a condom.
Where's Kenny?
@3:00PM
Snortin' Bricks, poppin' bottles, and hittin' rocks.
Jacktown is now living up to the rap video culture. Ya heard me.
Hey Amos, maybe we should help the mayor retain the "Jackson 5" from Aecom's proposal to help the city fight this lawsuit...Duhhhh, dat sounds like a great idea Andy...
Jerry, I assume, is Jerry Mitchell, Clarion Ledger employee who has been in the tank for fabricating stories related to discrimination (including murder) for decades. If the plaintiff were a black woman and the mayor a white man, Mitchell, Bill Minor and three junior reporters (as well as Donder Laid) would be all over this story like white in a snowstorm.
But, what we have here is crickets. Black crickets.
JFP published a story on this subject today. It was pretty good.
"Who is Jerry?"
A legend in his own mind.
"Next time you go to city Hall, I suggest you wear a condom."
A whole-body condom.
TO: THE CITY OF JACKSON @1:28PM
RE: Bic pens x 2
FROM: A former employee who now works for another agency
If they were med. point, blue, I know who took them. It was not the "she devil". It was a set-up from the night the pens were left unattended on my desk.
May the good lord and Lara forgive me.
I know this woman is counting her blessings, that she was fired before the honorable mayor was able to bend her over.
Not one bit surprised. I know this white guy who interviewed with the city attorney's office earlier this year. The interview went great, he knew several of the deputy attorneys. And he never heard back. Nada. Nothing. His color perhaps?
Bottom line: One thing matters in Jackson government, and one thing only - RACE.
my sources tell me that Tony will introduce a resolution next week that require the Council to only refer to him as The Rod from now on.
Since A-Rod is already taken, how about Hot-Rod?
I see Judge Wingate got the case....oh boy.
The last case I saw like this was a group of JPD officers who were required to re take exams for promotion back in 1997.....and certain black officers were not required to do so.
Probably an easy (ish) case.....but....Judge Wingate got the case.
Judge Wingate found for plaintiffs....in 2010.
They had all retired by then.
I am moving out of Hinds County. Now if I can just sell my home here in the firing range.
12:37 - good luck selling your home. Jackson property values go down by the day now. You could however probably get some DMH funding if you would turn it into an Oxford House.
4:28. EYHO. I live in NEJ, have for 48 years, love it here and gladly pay more, and will pay more to do so. I love it. LOVE IT. Go beat your wife, kick your dog or date Phistina to relieve your childish frustration.
8:30, like so many people over 75, is angry and out of control (Get outa my damned yard!). It's a good thing his/her front yard is so large in NEJ. S/He's tuckered out by the time s/he gets down to the road and can't really bother people much. Just pick up the paper and head back up the driveway to your asbestos-shingled house and leave the rest of us the fuck alone.
I worked on a case with Lara when she was in private practice. She was a good person and solid lawyer. I hate to see this has happened to her. I'm biased because of my epxerience with her, but she does not strike me as someone who would fabricate something like this or want this sort of attention drawn to her. I hope she wipes the floor with this City of Jxn crew for putting her through this.
@1:56...8:30 here. I win.
No one ever got fired from the City Attorney's office for being incompetent. In fact, that's considered a plus there.
The fact that Gail Lowery is there is proof they like their attorneys to be incompetent.
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