The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday ruled that whistle-blower lawsuits filed by two women against Fulton County can proceed toward trial.
The suits were filed by former deputy county manager Gwendolyn Warren and by Maria Colon, who had been hired in 2009 to investigate complaints of fraud, waste and abuse in the county government. They alleged they were retaliated against after they disclosed to their superiors and refused to cover up allegations that Fulton employees were misusing county money.
Colon, who served as chief investigator, received a number complaints for the newly established Office of Professional Standards. One included allegations that several employees were diverting county money to fund a private wedding planning business called “Exquisite Events.” According to Colon’s report, the operation involved the creation of false invoices that appeared to document the purchase of supplies for county-operated homeless shelters when the funds were instead being used to finance the private wedding and reception business, according to court filings.
Warren reported Colon’s findings to then-county manager Zachary Williams and urged the matter be referred to law enforcement authorities. In July 2010, Williams fired Warren and dissolved the Office of Professional Standards. Colon was also demoted to the position of research analyst and given a pay cut. Both women later filed retaliation suits against the county.
The county had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuits. But the state Supreme Court on Monday said the suits can go to trial.
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