The City of Ozark, Missouri, has agreed to a settlement with its former Human Resources (HR) director after she filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the town.
The Springfield News-Leader, a local publication, reports that Mayor Shane Nelson and Alderman Randy Wright had allegedly told a number of city employees about a rumor suggesting the former HR director, Cara Borneman, was engaged in a romantic relationship with one of her bosses. Between October 2013 and May 2014, many of these employees shared the rumor with Borneman herself, who then emailed the mayor, saying the rumor was false and asking to stop spreading it.
"On May 5th, 2014, I wrote Mayor Nelson an email informing him I knew he and Alderman Wright were discussing the rumor, that it was untrue, and asked that they stop because I found it offensive, damaging to my character and slanderous because of my position as the City's HR director," Borneman tells the News-Leader.
But according to the source, at their next meeting, the Board of Aldermen promptly terminated Borneman's position and transferred her duties and responsibilities to the city clerk. Borneman was given no cause for her firing or the elimination of her job, which prompted her to file a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, alleging "sexual-based discrimination." Borneman says that her personnel history is clean, with more than enough qualifications to handle the job, and that there was no other reason for her termination other than recourse for her request to the mayor.
The city has since agreed to pay out $78,000 in damages to Borneman, although the settlement does note that neither the Mayor or the Aldermen admit to any wrongdoing.
If you believe you have been the victim of similar discrimination and require wrongful termination lawyers to try your case in court, contact The Meyers Law Firm as soon as possible. Our team of Kansas City attorneys will help fight for the damages owed to you.