Former East St. Louis employee Phyllis Robinson claims she was terminated from her position as a housing health inspector for the Community Development Department in retaliation for refusing to sign a nominating petition for an individual running for political office.
According to a lawsuit Robinson filed against the City of East St. Louis, the city "violated the plaintiff's substantive and procedural due process rights by terminating her without cuase as the plaintiff was entitled to a hearing to determine the basis of her termination," the complaint states.
Robinson was hired Sept. 27, 2006, and terminated on Dec. 29, 2006, according to the suit filed Dec. 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
"...[T]he City of East St. Louis gave notice of a hearing to determine the basis for her termination but than (sic) unilaterally withdrew or canceled any hearing to be convened for said purpose...," the complaint states.
Represented by Jack A. Strellis of Waterloo, Robinson is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages, plus attorneys fees.
She claims her right of freedom of expression was violated.
Ex-ESL employee sues for wrongful termination
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