LIHUE — A former County of Kauai employee is suing the county for wrongful termination, claiming she lost her job for following state and federal rules. Christina Pilkington worked as Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the county from 1999 until June
LIHUE — A former County of Kauai employee is suing the county for wrongful termination, claiming she lost her job for following state and federal rules.
Christina Pilkington worked as Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the county from 1999 until June 30, 2012.
The suit, filed June 25, says she lost her job and was berated by Office of Mayor administration because she adhered to ADA guidelines that cost money to comply with.
The suit seeks unspecified damages to be proven at trial as well as back pay, front pay, prejudgment interest and lost employment benefits.
The suit claims Pilkington didn’t receive resistance from her superiors for promoting ADA compliance until the mayoral administration changeover in 2008.
“She was often chastised by the administrator and/or other members of the mayor’s executive team,” the complaint states.
The suit, filed by Honolulu attorney Ryan Harimito, does not name other employees, but said that in 2008 a board of commissioners, referred to as an administrator, was appointed to oversee her duties. She was referred to at one point as a “bitch” who cost a commission member a lot of money due to Pilkington’s ADA evaluation of his project while he worked in the private sector around 2000, according to the complaint.
Two of Pilkington’s duties, according to the suit, were monitoring the county’s compliance with a 1998 consent decree which arose from a civil lawsuit against the county for ADA violations as well as monitoring compliance with a 2001 agreement with the Department of Justice. The suit says that the county violated those agreements and she was berated for raising concerns.
In 2012, the county launched an effort to remove Pilkington by changing the title of her position and reducing its compensation, the suit states. Pilkington had to reapply for the position, and her application was rejected on a technicality.
County Spokeswoman Sarah Blane said the county hadn’t been served the complaint and declined to comment. Harimoto didn’t return a message from The Garden Island.
