SUTTONS BAY -- A former Leelanau County 911 dispatcher filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging she was fired in part because of her age.
Cathy L. Engel worked as a Leelanau dispatcher from September 2004 until September 2007. She seeks back wages and at least $25,000 in damages in a multi-count suit filed last month in 13th Circuit Court.
Engel was 45 when she was fired, and her suit alleges the county was "predisposed to discriminate on the basis of age." She was replaced by a person "approximately" 25 years old, according to the suit.
"Had (Engel) been a younger person, she would not have been terminated," the suit alleges.
Engel's son, Charles Hameline, filed a federal lawsuit in 2007 against two Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies, alleging they illegally entered his home and used excessive force to arrest him for alleged drunken driving.
Engel alleges she was subject to "continued and ongoing harassment" because of Hameline's suit, which also played a role in her dismissal, the suit says.
"Defendant discharged (Engel) in whole or in part in retaliation for her son's having commenced action against Leelanau County Sheriff's Department employees for violation of his civil rights," the suit reads.
Hameline's suit eventually was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell.
Engel's attorney, Fred Schmoll, said county officials fired Engel after they alleged she fell asleep on the job. He said that allegation isn't true.
The county has not yet filed a response to the complaint, a court spokeswoman said. Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf and Leelanau emergency management Director Tom Skowronski declined comment.
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