CHARLOTTE — The city of Charlotte and the Fire Department could face a lawsuit in the next few months after the North Carolina Department of Labor found sufficient evidence a former arson investigator was retaliated against.
The Department of Labor sent Crystal Eschert a right-to-sue letter saying there was “sufficient evidence to establish a violation of the law may have occurred.”
Eschert claims in 2014 the Charlotte Fire Department fired her for voicing concerns over the condition of a CFD building.
The city argues Eschert made inappropriate posts online.
A citizen complained about the Facebook post and CFD officials asked her to respond through a personal email.
"This seems extremely unusual and shady," the Department of Labor said in the review.
The DOL also called the timing between Eschert's concerns and her termination "highly suspicious."
Tom Brewer and Marty Puckett with Charlotte Firefighters Union worked with Eschert in her unsuccessful termination appeal.
"We don't believe she was treated fairly," Brewer said. "She was treated different than other people in the same situation."
Puckett called the report vindication.
"I would like to hope that somebody will show some leadership," Puckett said. "That city council, if they have the purview to look at this and say, 'Hey, we need to look at how this affects taxpayers' money.'"
So far, the city has spent more than $300,000 on attorneys and an independent investigation that found no direct evidence of retaliation.
Councilman Ed Driggs said he's disappointed the Eschert issue has become so expensive.
"We got back a report that wasn't really very conclusive so it didn't guide us that well," Driggs said. "We've also incurred some legal costs and this whole thing has kind of blown up."
Department of Labor officials said they tried to negotiate but did not reach a settlement.
The city declined to comment citing personnel laws and the Fire Department has not responded.
In the last fiscal year, the Department of Labor only found merit and issued right to sue letters in 3 percent of their cases.
Read our past coverage:
- CFD retaliation investigation cost Charlotte more than $200K
- Report: Termination of former CFD arson investigator was not retaliation
- 9 Investigates: Veteran CFD official criticized over alleged Facebook post
- Secret recordings raise new questions about firing of Charlotte fire investigator
- 9 Investigates: New details about elevator concerns inside CFD building
- Former fire investigator says she was fired for raising safety concerns
Cox Media Group
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