CITY’S REQUEST Judge denies city's request to dismiss whistleblower lawsuit SAMUEL B. PARKER Richmond Times-Dispatch Feb 5, 2025 Feb 5, 2025 Updated Mar 4, 2026 0 × A1 Minute! February 5, 2025; Shockoe Bottom's 'Portals', Train bridge maintenance, 40th Anniversary All-Diamond team [A1] Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A Circuit Court judge on Wednesday denied the city’s attempt to dismiss a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by Connie Clay, a former Richmond Freedom of Information Act officer who was fired in January 2024 after protesting officials’ handling of public records requests.kAmx? E96 @C56C C6;64E:?8 E96 4:EJ’D C6BF6DE[ yF586 r=2:C6 r2C5H6== HC@E6 E92E[ 2E E9:D DE286 :? E96 AC@4665:?8D[ D96 :D C6BF:C65 E@ “E2<6 2D ECF6 2== 2==682E:@?D :? 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E96 4:EJ’D DE2E65 2?5 24EF2= 42D9 32=2?46D]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7354adfa\36a3\``67\36da\63e32acb4hffQmp?@E96C 7@C>6C #:49>@?5 6>A=@J66 7:=6D H9:DE=63=@H6C DF:E 2==68:?8 C6E2=:2E:@?k^2mk^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^gc6547gg\2haa\``67\22dh\4bh_4_4f4fahQmp7E6C 962E65 962C:?8[ EC:2= 52E6 D6E :? #:49>@?5 u~xp H9:DE=63=@H6C 42D6k^2mk^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^76ebgf6_\g43a\``67\34`h\a3hacdg`eh`6Qmr=2Ji #:49>@?5 @77:4:2=D VDE2==:?8V @? u~xp H9:DE=63=@H6C =2HDF:Ek^2mk^Am Samuel B. Parker (804) 649-6462sparker@timesdispatch.com 0 Comments Locations Virginia Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Richmond city officials just settled a whistleblower lawsuit. How did we get here? The case stems from the firing of the city's former Freedom of Information Act officer. A1 Minute! February 5, 2025; Shockoe Bottom's 'Portals', Train bridge maintenance, 40th Anniversary All-Diamond team [A1] A1 Minute! February 5, 2025; Shockoe Bottom's 'Portals', Train bridge maintenance, 40th Anniversary All-Diamond team [A1] Watch Now: Related Video Trump says Israeli attacks on Beirut unjustified, puts Iran deal at risk Deadly Israeli strike hits Beirut Deadly Israeli strike hits Beirut Birthright citizenship decision looms as Trump court cases mount Birthright citizenship decision looms as Trump court cases mount GLP-1s and cancer prevention: What’s known and what isn’t GLP-1s and cancer prevention: What’s known and what isn’t
Richmond city officials just settled a whistleblower lawsuit. How did we get here? The case stems from the firing of the city's former Freedom of Information Act officer.
A1 Minute! February 5, 2025; Shockoe Bottom's 'Portals', Train bridge maintenance, 40th Anniversary All-Diamond team [A1] A1 Minute! February 5, 2025; Shockoe Bottom's 'Portals', Train bridge maintenance, 40th Anniversary All-Diamond team [A1]