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Former employee sues White Lake, Lilley in U.S. court
Kelly Knight, a former employee of White Lake Township, is suing the township for alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, and also suing Clerk Terry Lilley in both his individual and official capacities as township clerk.
Knight began working for the township in April 2008 as a grant and community administrator. According to her lawsuit, Knight was diagnosed in June 2010 with a “cyst-like structure” on her spinal cord which required a leave of absence from work, which she was granted under the FMLA by the township.
(Click to view PDF)According to Jeffrey Buehner, Knight’s attorney, Knight was three weeks into her medical leave when she discovered she was fired.
Knight alleges she found out from her neighbor that she had been fired.
“I thought I had no reason to worry about my job or position, and then three weeks into my medical leave I find out from my neighbor at the mailbox that I had been fired,” she said.
The White Lake Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting on July 13, 2010, at which time the board unanimously voted to eliminate the position of grant writer — Knight’s position — effective July 14, 2010, according to the minutes for that meeting.
The board also decided at that meeting to eliminate the secretarial positions in the Clerk’s Office and the Assessing Office, in addition to other measures to help trim the township budget.
The court complaint filed by Kelly acknowledges that the township issued her a written notice on or about July 28 that her employment would be terminated effective Sept. 1.
Knight and her attorney then filed suit in federal district court against White Lake Township for allegedly engaging in conduct prohibited under the FMLA. She is also suing the township for violation of her civil and constitutional rights under the Articles 1 and 17 of the Michigan Constitution, as she claims she was “terminated without proper notice or hearing.”
Knight also claims she has been deprived of her rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as the board allegedly has engaged in conduct “publicly stigmatizing her, not allowing her an opportunity to publicly answer Defendant Lilley’s accusations, thus interfering with her career and depriving her of her liberty interest in her reputation.”
Knight’s lawyer said the lawsuit was “avoidable” on the part of White Lake officials because “you don’t fire people who are on FMLA leave.”
“The situation has completely defamed my client and impugned her reputation,” Buehner said.
Lilley and his wife are also being sued individually by Knight for allegedly stating “false and defamatory statements” to others in the community.
Knight alleges that Lilley and his wife told her neighbor that she was “pulling a fast one” and “was faking her medical condition to be off work.”
In addition to being laid off while on medical leave, Knight claimed that “to have a high-ranking public official drag my name through the mud is demoralizing and humiliating.”
As such, she is seeking a monetary reward for lost wages, as well as damages in the amount above the minimum federal jurisdictional limit of $75,000.
Township Attorney Greg Need said that the township is denying all allegations in the complaint.
“We don’t think there is any merit to these claims and are fully confident we will be vindicated in court,” he said.
Lilley declined to comment on the lawsuit at this time.
26 Responses to Former employee sues White Lake, Lilley in U.S. court
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Joe Citizen
February 10, 2011 at 1:46 pm
The township is cutting staff to trim the budget. Oh Please!
Was that so the could go out and purchase 28,000 trash containers for every citizen in the township? Every one had trash containers of their own. Why would you spend money, “that they claim not to have”, on TRASH CANS?
Could we figure each can to be worth, maybe $50.00. And we don’t even have a contract with a trash hauler. What’s that all about.
The money spent on this foolish purchase could have been better used for other township expenses. Maybe even some for Fire and Police.
WHEN IS THIS BOARD GOING TO WAKE UP???????????????????????????????????
Jumper
February 10, 2011 at 3:32 pm
The trash cans were not purchased separately, they were part of the new contract. There was another garbage company that was being looked at which offered White Lake Citizens incentives for recycling and also offered a large chunk of change toward the Hazmat program each year. This program in my opinion would have been better for our citizens. Some members of the board turned this offer down to stick with our current waste company. It is all about politics!! I do believe this company contributed to someones campaign fund! Look a little further up the ladder………..
The Volunteer
February 11, 2011 at 6:33 pm
So they need to trim the budget and the best they could do was to eliminate secretarial positions? How about trimming back on the benefits of the Township Stupidvisor, Clerk and Treasurer. And while you are at it, stop paying for full benefits for the retired board members and their spouse’s.
jumper
February 11, 2011 at 6:57 pm
They could trim the budget MANY places. I was at the meeting when the township board unanimously voted to lay off 3 employees…one very smart move for the board. Any one that is not using their free big blue garbage can can drop on the door step of Mrs. Knight’s lawyer….I’m sure he has some papers to put in them….. this lawsuit is nothing but GARBAGE!!
Jumper1
February 11, 2011 at 10:15 pm
“Mommy! Suzie told me that the kids down the street are saying mean things about me!”. Could you imagine the lawsuits that parents could file on their kids behalf daily because god forbid someone said something mean about Johnny and no one wanted him to play on their team! May that mailbox always be a reminder to someone of not only a lifetime of friendship that one has chosen to step on and throw away but also the loss of one of the best families that I have ever known!
Hopper
February 12, 2011 at 12:50 am
Let’s see that makes it three now in Mr. Rogers neighborhood?
Joe Citizen
February 12, 2011 at 8:17 am
Jumper,
We do not have a contract with any rubbish collection company. So in fact the cans were purchased before any decision is made on a contract.
Point is why would we buy cans when everyone has their own? And the rubbish hauler still picks up my old can………………………..
Joe Citizen
February 12, 2011 at 8:20 am
And by the way, they aren’t done buying cans……they are going to purchase smaller cans for those of us that don’t like the large cans………is this ever going to end?
Maybe with a new board!!!!!
Does Caro, Egypt make sense?
Jumper
February 12, 2011 at 8:37 am
Sadly, you are very misinformed
Joe Citizen
February 12, 2011 at 9:01 am
You must be the wrong….If you ask Lilley for a smaller can they will put you on the waiting list until the smaller cans are delivered.
Next, I asked for a copy of the new contract under the FOI act….and guess what? THERE IS NO CONTRACT.
Jumper
February 12, 2011 at 10:11 am
No thank you.. I do not need another garbage can. Wait until a new garbage company starts picking up you garbage (the one that is FOR THE CITIZENS) don’t hold your breath! You will continue to see our current garbage company for a long time.. yes.. the one that is scratching the back of your new senator! Its a done deal! You just don’t know it yet.
Joe Average
February 13, 2011 at 11:55 am
Wow, it still never ceases to amaze me when people have no idea what they are talking about. Joe Citizen, there is a garage contract. I was at the meeting when they approved it. The garbage cans did not cost the citizens of White Lake any more than what the past contract was costing us. Next, the township is not purchasing the small garbage cans for people. If you want a smaller one, you will have to purchase it yourself from the company. Third, can someone tell me how this conversation turned into the garage collection contract. I am so sick of hearing about the garbage collection contract. It’s done, it’s over, get on with your life. The point of the article was the lawsuit with Kelly Knight. Along those lines I can say that the lawsuit is complete crap. The board is not covering up or back tracking. Knight was not fired. She was laid off because her position was eliminated. Sorry about your bad luck. The township never should have had a grant writer in the first place. She didn’t do anything while in that position and she cost the department $70,000 per year plus for salary. Take note that that is only $5,000 less than supervisors position makes. Kelly, quit acting like a spoiled little school girl who the other girls don’t want to play with. Finally, how is it possible that she did not find out that her position was eliminated until she was told at the mailbox. It was all over the papers and anyone that went to a meeting knew that the grant writers position was being eliminated. Go get a new job and quit complaining.
Joe Citizen
February 13, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Joe Average
maybe you should look at the WLT agenda. you can see clearly that the garbage contract is still open
AGENDA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING, TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011, 7 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
5. MINUTES
A. DECEMBER 7, 2010
B. DECEMBER 21, 2010
C. JANUARY 6, 2011
6. CONSENT AGENDA
A. LIST OF BILLS
B. REVENUE AND EXPENSE
C. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. TREASURER
2. BUILDING (MONTH END DEC. 2010, YEAR END 2010)
3. FIRE (DEC. MONTH END & 2010 YEAR END)
4. POLICE
5. WATER
7. RESOLUTIONS
A. RESOLUTION 11‐001
8. PLANNING
A. BP GAS MART DRIVE‐THRU ADDITION
9. OLD BUSINESS
A. GRISIUS v WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP
B. GARBAGE CONTRACT
10. NEW BUSINESS
A. 2011 PATROL VEHICLE PURCHASE
B. BULLETPROOF VEST PURCHASE
C. WATER SYSTEM CAPITAL ITEMS FOR 2011
D. NOVEMBER 2011 BOARD MEETING DATE (DISCUSSION)
E. LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH PLANTE/MORAN
11. ADJOURNMENT
jumper
February 13, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Joe citizen-
Why would any company give out thousands of garbage cans if they did not have a contract already secure. It is politics… THEY ALREADY HAVE THE CONTRACT SECURED!!!! YOU JUST DONT KNOW IT YET!! You are the kind of person they like because you obviously don’t see what politics are all about.
Joe average-
As far as i see it, the entire article IS about garbage. Although some people may interpret it in different ways. I am absolutely disgusted with twp. money going to waste because of her crying and whining. Yes, it is very unfortunate, but you are now on the boat with thousands of other jobless Americans!! Grab a life vest, buckle it really tight because you are about to take a journey on the rough waters of LIFE!! Time to grow up!!!
Hopper
February 14, 2011 at 9:19 pm
A big thank you to the new online Patch news for reporting on the real stuff that matters in White Lake!
Bobby
February 15, 2011 at 8:36 pm
White Lake clearly is at fault here. The Supervisor (King Kowall) was too busy trying to win an election for Senator (no wonder the state is in so much trouble) and he let the kids run the candy store. Ms Knight was out ON MEDICAL LEAVE…the king and his court of clowns should never have fired her. White Lake citizens, get ready to pay some big $$$$ on this and the other lawsuits…
Joe Average
February 16, 2011 at 11:21 am
Look, I am the first one to say that the board is not perfect. But she was not fired. Her position was eliminated. The only way she would have a case is if she was replaced which she was not. The big waste to the tax payers is the cost to fight this frivolous lawsuit.
Jumper1
February 16, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Well said!
Jumper
February 17, 2011 at 11:20 am
Bobby- You want to know where Kowall was during all of this?? I will tell you. He was at the meeting and voted (ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS), to ELIMINATE her position! She was NOT fired!! Get your facts straight.
Jumper 1
February 17, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Is “not fired” spelled correctly, seems some people are having a hard time reading that!
Joe Average
February 18, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Jumper and Jumper 1, I looked it up in the dictionary and it turns out that “Not Fire” was in fact spelled correctly. Kind of makes you wonder what it is that people think when they post things without having their facts straight. I just don’t get where people are getting the idea that she was fired. I don’t think you will find anywhere, in any of the literature that she was fired. Sad.
Jumper 1
February 20, 2011 at 12:02 am
Thanks for the research!
Fenrir
March 13, 2011 at 3:12 am
Does anyone else have the feeling that Jumper, Jumper1 and Joe Average is one and the same. With the last name of Lilley.
Jumper 1
May 25, 2011 at 11:57 am
Apparently not!
Jumper
April 5, 2011 at 10:29 am
Sorry fenrir… My last name is not Lilley nor do I have any relation to or friendship with Mr. Lilley. I am a resident of White Lake who is very involved in my community, including board meetings. I lived in Commerce twp. during the time Mrs.Knight was employed there. Maybe you could look into the problems that occurred during that time. White Lake gained nothing but a huge problem by hiring her.
Factivist
July 3, 2011 at 12:43 am
How many law suits does White Lake have against them right now?
I thought there was a sexual harassment suit on appeal.
Keep your eyes open, there may be another law suit coming soon.