KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County is asking a federal judge to throw out the lawsuit from former County Attorney Elizabeth White, who claims she was wrongfully terminated.
White was voted out by the commission back in November after they stated she was not doing her job in a timely manner.
However, the former counsel says she ran afoul of commissioners over her participation in the investigation of Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema and her handling of transfers of tax foreclosed housing to area churches and non-profits.
Specially, White argues she was fired for criticizing a property transfer from the county to Mothers of Hope, an organization ran by Commissioner Stephanie Moore’s mother.
The investigation into Balkema’s account was opened in October 2018 and was closed earlier this week after Michigan State Police announced no charges would be named against the treasurer.
White claims in the complaint that tensions continually escalated at public commission meetings, with some board members visibly targeting her in their remarks.
She then filed a lawsuit against the county, specifically naming Board Chair Julie Rogers and Commissioner Moore in it, claiming that the commission violated the Whistleblower’s Protection Act and the Opens Meetings Act as well as wrongful discharge and breach of contract.
On Monday the county filed a response asking for the case to be dismissed saying that White’s complaints did not show legitimate reasons on how the county’s actions could be considered discrimination or retaliation.
