Former employee is suing Jefferson County
Jefferson County is being sued by a former employee for wrongful termination.
Casey Bingham says the firing violated her First Amendment rights.
Bingham, who used to work in the county road, bridge and public works department is requesting a jury trial through federal court.
She is suing the county on three different counts for more than $30,000.
The complaint says each of the counts have damages that exceed $10,000.
A 15-page complaint was filed with the United States District court.
Former Jefferson County employee Casey Bingham claims she was fired after making comments concerning the misuse of county money.
Bingham’s attorney is Kevin Dinius of Nampa.
Dinius is not a new face to Jefferson county.
He has represented former Sheriff’s Office employee Andrea Lee in a county whistle-blower suit and Capt. Sam Dye during Jefferson County’s private witness intimidation investigation.
Dinius filed Bingham’s complaint on July 6.
Bingham claims the lawsuit stems from false allegations of unsatisfactory performance.
A disciplinary action form states she attended unauthorized workshops for a weed department training workshop in June 2014.
The county said she did this on the road and bridge department’s dime while using its vehicle, and the training did not pertain to her position.
According to Casey Bingham’s online ‘LinkedIn’ account her county job title changed in 2011 to administrative assistant weed control.
In another disciplinary action form, her former supervisor said she came into work saying she attended ATV training.
The county’s road and bridge department does not have ATV’s.
Her supervisor claims he did not authorize the training and did not feel it was necessary for her position.
Bingham signed both forms saying, “This is not true,” and that she had prior approval all training attended.
The signatures of both her and her supervisor are dated Nov. 17, which is the same day she was fired, and more than five months after the first disciplinary action form says the first incident happened.
The reason this was filed in the U.S. District Court is because it deals with constitutional lawsuits.
As of Friday, Jefferson County has not responded to the lawsuit.
