City Employee Settles Lawsuit for $104K Based on Allegations of Whistleblower Retaliation

A Richmond city employee who reported alleged misuse of city funds and was penalized for it settled a lawsuit for $104,000 with the city on Tuesday, according to her attorneys. In the lawsuit, Stacie Plummer accused city officials of retaliating against her for exposing illegal practices back in 2012, according to the Oakland law firm representing her. Her attorneys said she went to the city manager and other officials with allegations of city employees using city-issued credit cards for purchasing personal items.

Plummer also alleged that there was a misrepresentation in the numbers for a federal grant intended to fund Internet broadband in low-income Richmond communities, her attorneys said. As part of the allegations, Plummer accused the former human resources director, Leslie Knight, of running her personal business out of City Hall and using city vehicles while collecting a car allowance.

Plummer’s attorneys said her superiors did not take action in regards to the allegations and denied her a promotion as a result. The attorneys accused Knight of violating anti-retaliation policy by having another employee search Plummer’s email after she filed her complaint. This was verified, the attorneys said, during an independent investigation that also confirmed some portion of Plummer’s allegations.

Plummer’s attorneys said that City Manager Bill Lindsay allowed Knight to remain head of human resources before she retired several months after the investigation was completed. Lindsay did not return calls for comment on the lawsuit today. When reached, the city attorney’s office referred inquiries to the city manager’s office.

By Bay City News

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