By Jamie Henneman
The Times 

Employee suit against Family Resource Center continues

Judge finds closing not in 'bad faith'

 

Last updated 12/10/2020 at 1:56pm



DAVENPORT – A ruling in the Lincoln County Superior Court in a case involving the Family Resource Center of Lincoln County received a partial decision last month, but key issues in the case have yet to be decided.

In 2018, former employee Staci Landt filed a suit against the center, alleging the board of directors of wrongfully firing Landt and the center’s executive director, Lynne Kuchenbuch. Landt alledges that the center board moved to fire Kuchenbuch after she disclosed that she had cancer in Oct. 2017.

Landt had complained to the board that placing Kuchenbuch on administrative leave was illegal, as well as voicing other compliancy and supervision concerns.

The board then appointed a replacement for Kuchenbuch, removing Landt from acting as temporary supervisor. Landt advised the board that this action was in violation of the center’s guidelines.

In response the board accusted Landt of stealing Kuchenbuch’s employee file and filed a complaint with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office determined that there was no theft. Landt later applied for the executive director position of the center but “in retaliation” the board fired her in 2017, according to Landt’s lawsuit.


In a Nov. 24 hearing, Lincoln County Superior Court Judge John Strohmaier ruled that the center board had not acted in “bad faith” by closing the center in April 2020. However, attorney Bob Dunn who is representing Landt in the case, said that the court has yet to decide if Landt was wrongfully fired. If the court determines the center is at fault, it will be liable for backpay to Landt as well as attorney’s fees. Such a ruling would likely be paid by the center’s insurance, Dunn noted. Calls and emails to Sam Thilo, the attorney representing the center, were not returned as of press time.


Since its closure, services that were provided by the Family Resource Center, a non-profit that addressed family law and domestic abuse issues, are now being offered by Rural Resources Victim’s Services division.

A trial date for the case has not been set.

Author Bio

Jamie Henneman, Editor

Jamie Henneman is and editor with Free Press Publishing. She is the editor of the Davenport Times, based in Davenport, Wash.

 

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