Former Drug and Alcohol employee files suit
A former Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission employee has filed suit against the agency claiming she was wrongfully fired due to age and sex discrimination. Colleen P. Zielinsky claimed in her lawsuit that David McAdoo, director of the agency, inappropriately commented on her age, and her nearly 20 years’ experience with the agency, creating for her a “hostile work environment.”
Filed by attorney Brent Eric Peck, the suit claims breach of contract because Zielinsky’s termination did not follow a Policies and Procedures document set forth by the commission. The suit said Zielinsky and all employees of the commission were given the procedure document to sign each time it was revised.
When the agency fired her in February 2000, the suit alleges commission officials didn’t follow their own rules. The suit stated officials from the agency explained Zielinsky’s termination by alleging she was verbally abusive in her job.
A former prevention program supervisor, Zielinsky said she was terminated after filing a Jan. 19, 2000, grievance that claimed McAdoo had a “personal vendetta” against her. Reasons for the alleged vendetta included her years of service with the agency, “which (McAdoo) has openly stated is a burden to the agency’s finances. Also, he has a problem with my sex, my physical stature and is threatened by my knowledge and talent,” read the grievance letter.
Peck claimed in the suit that Zielinsky was dismissed at age 46, and her duties went to people substantially younger than her and also claimed that her sex was a determining factor in her termination.
The suit includes a copy of Zielinsky’s grievance letter, in which she states that she believes that McAdoo, “will use any and all information he receives regarding me against me in any way possible, up to and including discharge from my position.”
The letter also mentioned a meeting with representatives of a local school district in which Zielinsky wrote that there was a complaint made against her and a member of her staff.
The letter stated that Zielinsky attempted to discuss the matter with McAdoo, but he did not discuss it with her, and, in fact, complimented her on how she handled an incident within the district when she and another staff member were verbally attacked by an administrator in the district.
Zielinsky was reprimanded in Feb. 9, 1999, after a four-month investigation into a matter that was not detailed in the lawsuit.
The suit goes on to allege that the policy of the agency in matters of alleged verbal abuse is to reprimand on the first instance, suspend on the second, and terminate for the third.
The suit seeks damages in excess of $30,000, claiming that Zielinsky has been unable to find new employment, and has had to empty her life savings to survive. The lawsuit also said that Zielinsky has racked up debt by way of personal loans to pay bills and living expenses.
Her annual salary, according to the suit, was $39,403.