FORT WORTH -- Two former Tarrant Regional Water District employees are suing the agency for wrongful termination, contending that "increased tension" in the office began after one of them caught agency managers and employees looking at an obscene cellphone photo.
Jacklyn Mayfield contends that the subsequent stress in the office made her sick, and she missed work while getting medical care, according to a lawsuit filed in Tarrant County civil court. She was dismissed for too many absences.Her mother-in-law, Lori Mayfield, who interceded on Jacklyn's behalf, was also fired. The suit says she was never told why.Frank Hill of Arlington, a lawyer representing the Mayfields, declined to comment.In an e-mailed statement, water district spokesman Chad Lorance said: "We believe these to be baseless allegations that we will vigorously dispute. We will have no further comment on this pending litigation at this time."Deteriorating healthJacklyn Mayfield began working at the water district in October 2011. She started as a temp in the engineering department before being moved to a full-time job in risk management. Lori Mayfield was an engineering coordinator who had been employed since 1991, according to the suit.In December 2011, Jacklyn Mayfield walked into her supervisor's office to find people laughing and talking about an obscene photo on a cellphone. According to the suit, Mayfield reacted negatively and was asked to leave. She immediately told her mother-in-law what had happened and expressed concern that she might lose her job. Lori Mayfield echoed her concern and recommended that she not report the incident.A few weeks later, Jacklyn Mayfield began feeling "increased tension" in the office, to the point that she began seeking medical help, the lawsuit states.She was initially diagnosed with a sinus infection but her health deteriorated, requiring multiple visits to doctors, at least one trip to an emergency room and more than one hospitalization. By March, post-traumatic stress syndrome was diagnosed. It was so severe that her adrenal glands were affected, the lawsuit states.Water district officials repeatedly expressed concern about her absences -- both paid and unpaid -- asking for detailed medical information to verify her illnesses, the lawsuit states. Often, district officials sought and received that information from Lori Mayfield.Jacklyn Mayfield's physicians commented that some requests for information were unwarranted, the lawsuit states.Repeated absencesEventually, Lori Mayfield asked about the multiple "mean and unreasonable" information requests and was told that district officials thought Jacklyn Mayfield was a "cheater" because she was going to hospitals for unnecessary tests, according to the suit.Despite assurances from one district official that her job was secure, Jacklyn Mayfield was fired on March 21, the lawsuit states. She was told it was because of repeated absences.When Lori Mayfield said she was upset and needed time to be with Jacklyn, she was also fired, according to the suit. Lori Mayfield said she was never given an official reason. When she filed for unemployment, staff at the Texas Workforce Commission said the water district had not provided that information.The plaintiffs are seeking back pay and damages.Elizabeth Campbell, 817-390-7696Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
