Prosecutor's employee files claim for termination

EPHRATA — A former Grant County Prosecutor’s Office employee filed a claim for $750,000 for reported wrongful termination.

Cathleen Neils, a former administrative assistant, was one of two employees asked to resign from the prosecutor’s office in February. Two other employees were laid off.

Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee said he made the move so he could hire two new deputy prosecutors in a previous interview.

Kaye Burns, 57, was hired from within the prosecutor’s office to replace Neils.

Neils accused Lee of asking her to resign because she asked for medical leave at the direction of a physician, her age and because she criticized Lee’s qualifications to do his job.

Neils claims her criticisms were protected by the First Amendment.

She also accused Lee of misappropriating money, according to the tort. He allegedly cashed pay checks written for $769 more than his allotted $6,012 per month in August, September and October of 2008.

Neils accused Lee of knowing the amount was incorrect when accepting his paychecks and refusing to return the additional money.

Lee agreed to pay back $2,307 starting in January, according to the Grant County Auditor’s Office.

Lacy was not available to comment.

Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter said she wasn’t able to comment on the claim, but it had been forwarded to the county’s insurance company, Canfield and Associates.

“I’d love to comment, but it’s been referred to the insurance company and they’ve asked all parties not comment on it until it’s been resolved,” Lee said.

Neils claims the $750,000 is for “reimbursement for continuing wage loss and other actual damages, including general compensatory damages.”