• Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.
New posts

Matt J

SWGB
May 9, 2007
24,646
9,496

I have no doubt these charges are very likely true.

I wondered why the county budget for insurance is $2.5 million a year. Perhaps our rating is in the toilet?

Also, can we expect that reasoned level headed approach where Danny screams at the entire BCC and attendees?
 

leeboy

Beach Lover
Aug 19, 2015
220
100
Really disturbing if true. Article posted below for those who can't open the link....

____________________________________________________

A former Walton County employee is suing the County Board of Commissioners over wrongful termination and sexual harassment allegations.

Heather Maxwell, the former Assistant County Attorney, filed the lawsuit last Thursday against the Walton County Board of Commissioners -- including commissioners Michael Barker and Danny Glidewell individually.

Maxwell worked for the county from November 2017 until July 2021.

In the lawsuit, Maxwell alleges Commissioner William “Boots” McCormick had her fired after she rejected his romantic advances.

The lawsuit also claims Maxwell was put in numerous other uncomfortable positions "indicative of the arrogant, above-the-law, callous, 'good ole' boy' environment fostered by certain current" county commissioners.

The lawsuit mentions one specific situation where an unnamed current county commissioner called Maxwell late at night saying "he had a bad problem." He then allegedly dropped off a "completely nude, married (to another), and intoxicated female former Walton County employee" at her home for her to take care of.


The lawsuit goes on to say:

The same Commissioner further engaged in inappropriate conduct towards Maxwell just days before Maxwell’s unlawful termination by sending racially derogatory text messages to Maxwell and other County representatives while the group was on a County business trip using the 'N-word' and comparing African Americans to 'monkeys.'

In the lawsuit, Maxwell claims commissioners Barker and Glidewell conspired to have her fired because of the situation between her and McCormick.

According to the lawsuit, after a work trip in Orlando, Maxwell began receiving text messages from McCormick in early July 2021.

In alleged texts from McCormick provided by Maxwell, he told her he found her “very attractive and smart," adding he believed they were both smart enough to “navigate between private and work.” McCormick's alleged text concluded by saying he would leave “the degree of the relationship” in Maxwell's hands.

In the lawsuit, additional text messages provided by Maxwell show McCormick asking to take her to dinner on her birthday.

The lawsuit claims that on July 7, 2021, Maxwell texted McCormick saying they should just remain friends. She was fired from the county on July 20, 2021.

According to the lawsuit, while Maxwell traveled to Washington DC for work from July 8-12, commissioners Barker and Glidewell told Deputy County Administrator Larry Jones to terminate Maxwell -- allegedly because of her gender and her rejecting McCormick’s romantic advances.

"Barker’s actions with regard to Maxwell were done with specific intent and knowledge of the unlawful nature of such actions given prior similar acts by him," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit then references a 2010 incident where Barker was forced to resign from his position as a Captain with the Walton County Sherriff’s Office or face an Internal Affairs Investigation.

"The Investigation sustained that Barker, who had been place on administrative leave, had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate female employee in his chain of command and caused a second female employee who initially reported the relationship to be subject to an investigation, claiming she had lied about the relationship (which in fact was true)," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit claims Maxwell's termination letter did not provide an explanation or reasons for her firing.

As an explanation in its Statement of Position, county officials said Maxwell did not complete discovery responses for a significant land use litigation matter where Maxwell was representing the county.

"The only other alleged legitimate reason proffered for Maxwell’s termination in the SOP is a vague reference to Adkinson allegedly learning of 'consistent lack of performance' by Maxwell from staff without any supporting documentation, statements or identity of such alleged staff members supporting same," the lawsuit states.

Maxwell is demanding a jury trial. The lawsuit states she also filed the complaint for "Damages, Declaratory Relief and Attorneys’ Fees."
 

30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,286
2,312
53
Backatown Seagrove
Tony seems to have been at Don Pedro's while all of this was going down and was not named in the lawsuit. You know it is bad when the most blatant puppet on the BCC has the cleanest nose.:rotfl:
 
New posts


Sign Up for SoWal Newsletter