Dickerson files second suit against Milton
Milton’s legal woes continued this week after former Town Manager George Dickerson filed a second lawsuit against the town, the mayor and three council members. Dickerson claims members of council who were biased against him unfairly voted to fire him.
The suit, filed April 18 by Dickerson’s attorney James Green of the Wilmington firm Seitz, Van Ogtrop and Green, accuses the town of conspiracy, violation of due process and breach of contract.
Dickerson’s six-month suspension ended in a 4-3 vote March 7, to terminate him as Town Manager. Council members Norman Lester and Ronda Abraham, Vice Mayor Leah Betts and Mayor Cliff Newlands are targets of Dickerson’s latest lawsuit; they voted for his dismissal.
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Police lieutenant sues former administration Cornwell and his wife, Jacquelyn, filed a suit March 9 against Post, Dickerson, Betts, Abraham, Councilwoman Deanna Duby, former Council members Joan Martin-Brown, Noble Prettyman and Mary Hudson and Brad Hudson of Milton Police Department. Cornwell and his wife are seeking damages relating to Cornwell’s 2009 suspension and investigation, resulting from the suspension and disciplinary hearing of Police Chief William Phillips. Cornwell never faced formal charges and was reinstated, along with Phillips, in September 2009. Cornwell’s suit mirrors a suit filed by Phillips and his wife Feb. 28, against the same defendants, except Brad Hudson. Phillips’ lawyer, Bruce Rogers of Georgetown, also represents Cornwell. Like Phillips, Cornwell and his wife are seeking an undisclosed amount of compensatory and punitive damages for Cornwell’s public humiliation and unexplained suspension and Jacquelyn’s loss of consortium. |
According to the suit, Newlands agreed to recuse himself from the vote over Dickerson’s termination because he was the chief witness against Dickerson during a closed-door hearing earlier this year. On Feb. 22, council voted 3-3 regarding Dickerson’s termination.
“Because a majority vote was required to terminate Dickerson, the tie vote mandated that Dickerson return to his position as Town Manager,” the complaint says.
Instead, Newlands continued Dickerson’s suspension without pay, a violation of contract according to Dickerson, and scheduled a second meeting for further deliberation. According to the suit, Newlands ordered another vote March 7.
Newlands did not recuse his vote a second time. He broke the tie vote and Dickerson was fired. Newlands did not wish to comment on the lawsuit.
In the suit, Dickerson claims his suspension began after he filed his first lawsuit against Betts, Abraham and Milton Police Chief William Phillips.
Dickerson and fellow town hall employee Julie Powers claimed Phillips, during his own disciplinary hearing, made remarks against Dickerson and Powers that were slanderous and malicious.
Dickerson accuses Betts and Abraham of bias during his hearing because he had filed a suit against them.
He says Betts and Abraham should have recused their votes for Dickerson’s termination. Betts and Abraham did not wish to comment on the lawsuit.
The suit says Newlands and Lester were fulfilling campaign promises to get rid of Dickerson, blaming him for the town’s poor financial situation. Dickerson claims in the suit that the economic slowdown and recession are responsible for Milton’s finances. Lester could not be reached at press time.
Dickerson claims the defendants deprived him of his constitutional right to earn a livelihood and that his hearing and subsequent termination violated Milton’s charter and state law.
Dickerson is seeking substantial monetary compensation, including five times his last reported yearly earnings – $476,500 – for being fired without cause. In the suit, Dickerson also asks to be reinstated as town manager. Dickerson said the lawsuit speaks for itself, and he did not wish to comment further.
