SURFSIDE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A former town employee filed a lawsuit against the Town of Surfside Beach for his “unauthorized and illegal termination.”
News13 was there when Deputy Administrator, Jon Harrah, was fired during a public meeting on January 23. Town Administrator, Micki Fellner, was also fired.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, alleges Harrah’s termination “was unauthorized and illegal in that the Defendant [The Town of Surfside Beach] mandated, by Ordinance…. that no Department Head can be terminated unless for cause with the Administrator presenting to the Defendant’s Town Council the basis for the cause.”
“It’s very unfortunate that the town, again, has not done the right thing,” said Harrah’s attorney, Henrietta Golding.
The lawsuit says the “unlawful” acts of the Town have caused “actual, consequential and incidental damages including but not limited to the loss of wages with interest thereon, loss of benefits with interest thereon, and loss of reputation.”
It also explains Harrah is entitled to a judgment against the town and an order of the Court awarding him “reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for the prosecution of this action.”
Mayor of Surfside Beach, Bob Childs, said he cannot comment on pending litigation.
On the night Harrah and Fellner were fired, the Mayor said, “It’s a train wreck and Mr. Courtney is driving this train wreck.” Tim Courtney was the councilman who called for the removal of Fellner and Councilman Randle Stevens called for the removal of Harrah.
Tune in to News13 at 11 p.m. for more details on this case.
