A former Jackson-Hinds Library System Executive Director Patty Furr is seeking damages for wrongful termination from her position.
Recently, Furr filed a claim with the Mississippi Tort Claim Board, citing wrongful termination by the JHLS board of trustees.
A notice was served recently to board chairman Rickey Jones.
Furr was terminated in June, after several accusations were levied against her, including "fostering a hostile work environment," and the "misapplication and/or misappropriation of funds for improvements to facilities and raise for employees," a letter to Furr reads.
The director has long since denied those allegations, and has now turned the tables on the board. She also says she has received permission from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to file suit in federal court.
According to a copy of the complaint, Furr had worked for the library for seven years and "never received any disciplinary citations, nor negative performance evaluations of any kind during that time."
She claims that she had only been given one evaluation by the board, despite asking for an evaluation on numerous occasions, the document states.
The claim calls out several board members in particular, including Jones, who created a hostile work environment for Furr, as well as board member Wayne McDaniels, who "regularly belittled (Furr) in meetings, personally ordering her to cease doing her normal duties, such as 'acting as library spokesperson,' as in her job description, despite the fact that the library board has the authority to make such changes in her responsibilities."
Furr is seeking no less than $1 million in damages, according to the claim.
Jones couldn't be reached for comment.
Click on the link to download a copy of the claim.
https://www.northsidesun.com/sites/default/files/2020-09/Furr%20redacted.pdf
