A former employee filed a complaint against Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, Deputy Chief Nashonda Howard and Birmingham Police Lt. Constance Echols on Sunday.In it, Jude Washington claims that they worked together when he resigned on Aug. 29, 2024, “after having been retaliated against by the Defendants to the extent that no reasonable person would continue to maintain their employment.”Washington’s attorney, Scott Morro, gave the following statement to WVTM 13 in response to the filing:“Jude Washington is the best of the best! Honesty, integrity, ability, coupled with leadership. Mark Pettway is the worst of the worst and has surrounded himself with people just like him. Pettway used his position and some incompetent cronies to damage Jude Washington. It is high time for accountability! That’s what this lawsuit is about! Truth!”Washington also sent a statement saying, “This lawsuit is not about me personally, it seeks to hold individuals accountable for ongoing mistreatment and harassment of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office employees, retaliatory practices, poor leadership, and the destruction of a once-respected office. All allegations are factual and will be proven in court, including the malicious, fabricated investigation brought against me. The timing has nothing to do with the election; it reflects difficulty finding an attorney who handles this type of law. Thanks to my current attorney, Scott Morro, I am able to move forward.”A statement from Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was also sent to WVTM 13 in response to the filing:”Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are aware of the frivolous lawsuit filed by Jude Washington. Washington is a former and disgruntled employee of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the allegations in his Complaint are false, defamatory and meritless. The facts of this case are found in the July 23, 2024 Personnel Board Order, which held that the Sheriff’s Office proved that Washington’s actions violated Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures and the Order found that Washington ‘admitted his guilt after a series of less than truthful interviews and a failed Polygraph test.’ The Personnel Board ordered Washington to take a mandatory ethics review course because of his conduct; however, Washington resigned from the Sheriff’s Office instead of completing the mandatory ethics course. Washington never appealed the Personnel Board Order and Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deny the frivolous, false and meritless allegations in the Complaint and will address the allegations in Court.”Washington was hired in 1988, according to the complaint and was on the FBI Task Force. He is now running against Pettway for Jefferson County sheriff. Bingo hallsWashington claims that Pettway used his wife, who is the district attorney, to close down bingo halls, which gave more business to the one’s run by Pettway’s brother. “Pettway and his brother, Bruce, convinced the gambling community and local media that (his wife) was shutting down bingo halls. This was an effort to hurt (her) in the next election,” the document states.Intentional interferenceWashington claims that the defendants interfered with his relationships and business by “subjecting the Plaintiff to baseless investigations, conducting sham investigations that were incomplete and retaliatory, disciplining Plaintiff, retaliating against the Plaintiff by assigning Plaintiff to the corrections division on the evening shift despite Plaintiff having specialized training and knowledge and seniority, tampering with the Plaintiff’s pension status, and failing to provide the Plaintiff with the proper authorizations to perform his duties after he returned to duty following Plaintiff’s unlawful termination,” according to the lawsuit.Wrongful termination and hostile work environmentThe defendants caused Washington to wrongfully resign because of “insufficient allegations of rules violations, harassment, retaliation, disciplinary assignments, and a failure to properly reinstate” him, according to the document.Due processAccording to the lawsuit, the termination was a “sham” because Washington claims the sheriff had already approved his termination before the hearing for it.Civil conspiracy to violate civil rightsWashington claims that he was repeatedly made out to be a liar in meetings so that he would be removed from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office “rather than address the misconduct he reported,” according to the filing.Grant requestsWashington’s lawsuit is requesting a jury trial for actual and compensatory damages, payment for attorney fees and costs and “any further relief” the court deems.
A former employee filed a complaint against Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, Deputy Chief Nashonda Howard and Birmingham Police Lt. Constance Echols on Sunday.
In it, Jude Washington claims that they worked together when he resigned on Aug. 29, 2024, “after having been retaliated against by the Defendants to the extent that no reasonable person would continue to maintain their employment.”
Washington’s attorney, Scott Morro, gave the following statement to WVTM 13 in response to the filing:
“Jude Washington is the best of the best! Honesty, integrity, ability, coupled with leadership. Mark Pettway is the worst of the worst and has surrounded himself with people just like him. Pettway used his position and some incompetent cronies to damage Jude Washington. It is high time for accountability! That’s what this lawsuit is about! Truth!”
Washington also sent a statement saying, “This lawsuit is not about me personally, it seeks to hold individuals accountable for ongoing mistreatment and harassment of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office employees, retaliatory practices, poor leadership, and the destruction of a once-respected office. All allegations are factual and will be proven in court, including the malicious, fabricated investigation brought against me. The timing has nothing to do with the election; it reflects difficulty finding an attorney who handles this type of law. Thanks to my current attorney, Scott Morro, I am able to move forward.”
A statement from Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was also sent to WVTM 13 in response to the filing:
“Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are aware of the frivolous lawsuit filed by Jude Washington. Washington is a former and disgruntled employee of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the allegations in his Complaint are false, defamatory and meritless. The facts of this case are found in the July 23, 2024 Personnel Board Order, which held that the Sheriff’s Office proved that Washington’s actions violated Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures and the Order found that Washington ‘admitted his guilt after a series of less than truthful interviews and a failed Polygraph test.’ The Personnel Board ordered Washington to take a mandatory ethics review course because of his conduct; however, Washington resigned from the Sheriff’s Office instead of completing the mandatory ethics course. Washington never appealed the Personnel Board Order and Sheriff Mark Pettway and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deny the frivolous, false and meritless allegations in the Complaint and will address the allegations in Court.”
Washington was hired in 1988, according to the complaint and was on the FBI Task Force. He is now running against Pettway for Jefferson County sheriff.
Bingo halls
Washington claims that Pettway used his wife, who is the district attorney, to close down bingo halls, which gave more business to the one’s run by Pettway’s brother.
“Pettway and his brother, Bruce, convinced the gambling community and local media that (his wife) was shutting down bingo halls. This was an effort to hurt (her) in the next election,” the document states.
Intentional interference
Washington claims that the defendants interfered with his relationships and business by “subjecting the Plaintiff to baseless investigations, conducting sham investigations that were incomplete and retaliatory, disciplining Plaintiff, retaliating against the Plaintiff by assigning Plaintiff to the corrections division on the evening shift despite Plaintiff having specialized training and knowledge and seniority, tampering with the Plaintiff’s pension status, and failing to provide the Plaintiff with the proper authorizations to perform his duties after he returned to duty following Plaintiff’s unlawful termination,” according to the lawsuit.
Wrongful termination and hostile work environment
The defendants caused Washington to wrongfully resign because of “insufficient allegations of rules violations, harassment, retaliation, disciplinary assignments, and a failure to properly reinstate” him, according to the document.
Due process
According to the lawsuit, the termination was a “sham” because Washington claims the sheriff had already approved his termination before the hearing for it.
Civil conspiracy to violate civil rights
Washington claims that he was repeatedly made out to be a liar in meetings so that he would be removed from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office “rather than address the misconduct he reported,” according to the filing.
Grant requests
Washington’s lawsuit is requesting a jury trial for actual and compensatory damages, payment for attorney fees and costs and “any further relief” the court deems.
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