Former East Ridge budget clerk Beth Tatum has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of East Ridge and City Manager Tim Gobble, saying she was not paid for overtime work and that she was fired by the city manager after complaining about it to the City Council.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Harry Burnette and Frank Pinchak, says she was fired "for refusing to remain silent about defendants' illegal activities - not paying overtime as required" under state law.
Mr. Gobble said," Ms. Tatum’s termination was justified and within the rules and procedures of the city."
It says Ms. Tatum worked for the city from 2005 until April 2012. She said she often had to work through her unpaid lunch hour and to stay after 5 p.m. to keep up with her assigned work.
The suit says after Mr. Gobble became city manager he told employees they could no longer turn in overtime, but would have to take comp time, and effective July 1, he said "employees could not put down any overtime."
Ms. Tatum said she was also assigned to collect gate receipts from Camp Jordan Park. She said there was an issue of her using a city vehicle to transport the receipts.
She said she wrote an email to Mr. Gobble on the issue and copied members of the East Ridge City Council on the email.
She said the following Monday morning she was called into Mr. Gobble's office and terminated.