Deputy Constable Sues The County For Political Discrimination and Wrongful Termination

Rebecca Bowden claims in her lawsuit,  she lost her job as a deputy constable of Precinct I in Jefferson County after the newly-elected Precinct I Constable Nick Saleme was elected to office. (Case No. B194-038) Before Saleme was elected to  office, he allegedly talked to the incumbent Precinct I Constable, Charles Wiggins on the phone and revealed his plans for his future employees, according to the complaint.  Saleme allegedly told Wiggins on a speakerphone, ” The people in your office have been there for a long time and I feel that they are politically loyal to you, I don’t want to have to be worried about being stabbed in the back or have anyone going to others telling them what I am doing and trying to make me look bad… So, they will be let go.” Because Bowden had attended a Republican Christmas party in support of Wiggins, she faced the prospect of losing her job if Saleme was elected to office, the complaint claims. “No good cause exists for the termination of the plaintiff or any of the people who employed in the Precinct I Constable’s Office,” the suit states. “Nick’s motivation in terminating plaintiff and her fellow workers in Precinct I was substantially motivated by plaintiff’s exercise of protected speech and or association in attending the Republican Christmas/kick-off political party of Dec. 19, 2011, or working for the former Democratic then Republican candidate Charles Wiggins as Constable of Precinct I.” The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), protects employees from discrimination in personnel actions based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation. If you have suffered discrimination or wrongful termination, please give California Employment Attorney, Todd M. Friedman at (877) 449-8898 for a free consultation.