Ex-city worker files job-bias complaint
Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008
SPRINGDALE — A former Springdale animal services employee sued the city Monday claiming job discrimination. Karen Hamilton, a former euthanasia technician, filed the lawsuit in U. S. District Court in Fayetteville. The lawsuit names Mayor Jerre Van Hoose, the City Council and others. Officials couldn’t immediately be reached Monday for comment. The suit claims that Hamilton’s civil rights were violated and that she was wrongly denied leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. Hamilton, who was hired in 1993, said a co-worker accused her of behavior that constituted animal cruelty. The claim was in retaliation for complaining about a supervisor, the suit states. Hamilton was suspended, then fired in February. She appealed to the City Council, which overturned her firing but upheld the suspension. However, she was unable to return to her job because of the harm she suffered, the suit states. She then asked for medical leave, but was denied and was fired again in July, the suit claims.
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