BENTON — Two former employees say they faced retaliation after cooperating with an U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) investigation into the Marion County Housing Authority.
Sherri Spears and Kim McBride-Davies filed a complaint on June 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against the housing authority and seven commissioners, alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
According to the complaint, Spears and McBride-Davis alerted HUD to financial misconduct within the housing authority. Soon after, the agency fired them. The former employees claim this violates the Illinois Whistleblower Act.
The plaintiffs request a jury trial and damages of more than $300,000. They are represented by Greg Roosevelt of Roosevelt Law Office in Edwardsville.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:18-cv-01325-MJR-RJD