Code Enforcement Officer allegedly fired for defying mayor

On Behalf of | May 9, 2014 | Wrongful Termination |

As long as you’re doing your job well and not guilty of improper conduct, you might assume that your job is safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Frequently, in Indiana and indeed across the United States workers are dismissed from their jobs on unjust grounds. Sometimes it’s a matter of retaliatory discharge, discrimination or the result of a dispute with an employer. When this happens, it is vital for employees to stand up for their rights and fight back.

In Maryland, a former Code Enforcement Officer was dismissed from his job after refusing to overlook a safety issue in a building. The building in question had a collapsing roof and would not have passed a safety inspection. However, the town’s mayor allegedly requested that the matter be ignored so the building could be used in attracting new business to the town.

To overlook this safety issue would have been a violation of the code the employee was paid to enforce, not to mention a matter of questionable morality. When questioned by a County Deputy Fire Marshal about the property, he felt obliged to tell the truth. Angered by the decision, the mayor advised him to resign. One week after this, the employee received notice of his termination.

In his suit against the mayor, along with the Council of Snow Hill, the former employee claims wrongful discharge. He also alleges that the incident had an effect on his marriage. The suit is pursuing $150,000 in damages, half compensatory and half punitive.

Although it occurred in another state, this case is an example of the sort of treatment workers in Indiana often face. If you have been unfairly dismissed from your job, you have a right to fight. An attorney can advise you on your rights and may be able to help you challenge your employer. With the right support, you may be able to win compensation or even have your job reinstated.

Source: The Dispatch, “$150K Wrongful Termination Suit Filed Against Snow Hill,” Shawn J. Soper, May 1, 2014

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