A federal judge has upheld a wrongful termination claim filed by Pike Road Volunteer Fire Protection Authority’s former chief.
Mike Green, the plaintiff, brought charges in April 2015 against the Authority for disability discrimination and against Jane James, one of the Authority’s directors, for slander.
U.S. District Judge Harold Albritton dismissed the slander claim.
The complaint stems from a January 2014 incident after Green had a disk replaced in his neck and was taking prescription oxycodone.
Green was off duty staying in a Tallapoosa County hunting lodge and had driven to a local store. When he arrived, it appeared the store was closed. As he was turning around, a Tallapoosa County sheriff’s deputy pulled him over and charged him with a DUI.
The DUI charge has since been dismissed. According to the complaint, James and Jack Jackson, another director, asked Green to resign after he was charged with the DUI, stating that this was not Green’s first offense.
He refused, and in his complaint referred to these allegations as slander. Then, in April 2014, the defendants held an open meeting to discuss Green’s future, which was attended by members of the public, law enforcement and the fire department.