A former Stockbridge city clerk was recently awarded $150,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit against the city.
Rhonda Blackmon sued Stockbridge city officials in December 2014 alleging she was not reappointed as city clerk and that the job was given to a black woman who was less qualified. Blackmon was replaced during the first council meeting of 2014 by a vote of a majority black council - two of whom were new. Blackmon’s suit, which was filed in the Atlanta Division of the United States District Court, claimed the council was improperly sworn-in according to the city charter and therefore the council’s action during its first meeting was void. The suit also alleged one councilmember was overheard saying that the council would protect black city employees.
Tim Thompson and Alphonso Thomas, who served as mayor and council member respectively at the time, were listed as defendants in the suit along with current councilmembers LaKeisha Gantt and Anthony Ford.
Efforts to reach Blackmon were unsuccessful Monday. The city asserted Monday evening in a prepared statement that “there is no factual or legal basis for the allegations and claims in the lawsuit and deny any liability to Ms. Blackmon.” The city’s insurance carrier is responsible for paying the settlement.
“The City wishes to make clear that the settlement agreement is not to be deemed in any manner as an admission, finding, or indication for any purposes whatsoever that the named defendants, the city, or any of its current or former officials, officers, employees, and/or other agents acted contrary to the law or violated the rights of Blackmon,” the city press release stated.
Before filing the lawsuit, Blackmon filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in March 2014.
Blackmon became interim clerk for Stockbridge on Aug. 31, 2012, and was appointed city clerk two months later.
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