A former Hill County deputy treasurer is suing the county for “wrongfully” firing her, according to the court complaint document.
Carol Schubert, a Hill County employee of 16 years, filed a wrongful discharge lawsuit against Hill County for “unlawfully” firing her and is requesting four years of lost wages, according to the Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial court document dated June 11.
Schubert was let go on or about June 14, 2017, during a phone call with then-county attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson. That same day, Hill County held a hearing about Schubert’s employment without her there. Schubert, the complaint says, was not there because the notice she received about the meeting had the wrong date and was “untimely mailed to her.”
The document says Schubert was fired for making “minor, petty mistakes which are made by others in the treasurer’s office with no repercussions.” Her termination was “pretextual, arbitrary, contrary to accepted and sound practices and prior policy of the Hill County Treasure’s Office and Hill County.”
Before filing the suit, Schubert had exhausted her grievance and appeal rights, the complaint says. Schubert sent a letter dated Nov. 13 to the county commissioners, through her attorney, Neal P. Dubois, to notify them of the pending complaint and to demand a settlement. More than a month later, Dec. 22, the commissioners replied with a letter rejecting her claim.
As a deputy treasurer, Schubert was paid $19.80 an hour and received paid sick leave, paid holidays, retirement and health insurance. Schubert is suing for four years of lost wages and fringe benefits from the date of termination, as well as for other and further relief “deemed just and equitable.”
Hill County Attorney Karen Alley said Tuesday that the county has no comment on the case because it is pending litigation.
No further hearings regarding the suit are scheduled.
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