(WXYZ) — A legal battle is unfolding after two managers inside a state prison in Jackson filed a lawsuit alleging unfair treatment and wrongful termination.
Employees Brent Rohrig and Vickie McCabe say despite being reinstated to their jobs by a court, their careers suffered permanent harm and their rights were violated.
The lawsuit filed in Jackson County alleges false claims of violating employee rules were a retaliation for exposing employee drug smuggling and discrimination. Their May 2017 termination from the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility was overturned in August 2018 complete with back pay.
Attorney Jonathan Marko says both clients suffered financial and emotional hardships.
“No one should ever have to go thru what my clients have went through," Marko said. "I want to stop it from happening again and hold the MDOC accountable.”
An MDOC spokesman says the firings were justified and claims repeated use of racially offensive texts by Rohrig. He also says both Rohrig and McCabe deleted emails that were part of a freedom of information act request.
