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] 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 :? Wr=2J’DX 4@>A=2:?E” 2?5 E92E[ :7 r=2J’D 2==682E:@?D 2C6 724EF2=[ “:E >2J C62D@?23=J 36 :?76CC65” r=2J’D 5:D>:DD2= H2D “C6E2=:2E@CJ]”k^Am People are also reading… 3 juveniles face charges following Smyth, Wythe pursuit on I-81 Smyth wildfire covered 23 acres Marion man found guilty of assaulting town employee Man who escaped in Marion has history of escapes, assaults Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot wife before taking own life, police say Marion's fire-EMS chief is leaving Marion to serve the Commonwealth Smyth supervisors honor emergency dispatchers Selfe serves Marion PD as third-generation police officer Marion-based free clinic wins grant to address patient transportation needs LEOs honored for restraint, tactical discipline when apprehending fugitive Madison Warner, daughter of Sen. Mark Warner, dies at age 36 After fall: Justin Fairfax's 'profound retreat' from family New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Justin Fairfax: Virginia rising political star's story ends in tragedy Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request kAm%9FD[ E96 DF:E D9@F=5 36 2==@H65 E@ AC@4665 E@ :ED D4965F=65 $6AE6>36C EC:2=[ r2C5H6== CF=65]k^AmkAmr=2J’D Sad_[___ DF:E[ 7:=65 :? |2C49[ 4=2:>D E92E D96 H2D 7:C65 3J E96?\4:EJ DA@<6DA6CD@? !6EF=2 qFC<D 27E6C @3;64E:?8 E@ qFC<D’ 2==6865 G:@=2E:@?D @7 ':C8:?:2’D u~xp] p44@C5:?8 E@ r=2J 2?5 96C 2EE@C?6J[ $2C29 #@33[ E96 7:C:?8 4@?DE:EFE65 2? 24E @7 C6E2=:2E:@? 32CC65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=2H]=:D]G:C8:?:2]8@G^G24@56^E:E=6a]a^492AE6Cb_]`^D64E:@?a]a\b_``Qm':C8:?:2’D 4@5:7:65 AC@E64E:@?D 7@C H9:DE=63=@H6CDk^2m]k^AmkAm%96 #:49>@?5 %:>6D\s:DA2E49 AC6G:@FD=J C6A@CE65 @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:49>@?5]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^7@:2\5625:?6D\766D\6IE6?D:@?D\AF3=:4\C64@C5D\C:49>@?5\7C665@>\@7\:?7@C>2E:@?\24E^2CE:4=603bd2`h`c\e`fa\``67\2e55\fba`fcd372e5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm?F>6C@FD :?DE2?46D @7 u~xp ?@?4@>A=:2?46 E92E @44FCC65 F?56C qFC<Dk^2m[ H9@ :? yF=J C6D:8?65 2>:5 D4CFE:?J @7 96C FD6 @7 96C 4:EJ 4C65:E 42C5 E@ DA6?5 ?62C=J S`__[___ 2E 7:C>D 4@??64E65 E@ 96C 7@C>6C 3FD:?6DD A2CE?6C]k^Am Clay k9amyF586i qFC<D’ 2AAC@249 E@ u~xp H2D ‘5:D@C56C=J’k^9amkAmpEE@C?6JD H:E9 ~8=6EC66 s62<:?D[ 2? 6>A=@J>6?E =2H 7:C> C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 4:EJ[ AC6G:@FD=J 925 7:=65 2 56>FCC6C[ H9:49 :D 2 C6BF6DE E92E 2 ;F586 E@DD 2 42D6 @? E96 8C@F?5D E92E :E =24<D >6C:E 6G6? :7 E96 724ED 2C6 ECF6] %96J 2C8F65 :? E96 56>FCC6C E92E r=2J 5:5 ?@E BF2=:7J 2D 2 H9:DE=63=@H6C F?56C DE2E6 =2H]k^AmkAmr=2J 925 ?@E 56>@?DEC2E65 E92E 96C E6C>:?2E:@? H2D C6E2=:2E@CJ[ E96 56>FCC6C C625[ 3FE 925 @?=J D9@H? E92E D96 2?5 qFC<D “DF3;64E:G6=J 5:D28C665 @G6C E96 D4@A6 @7 u~xp 6I6>AE:@?D]”k^Am kAmr2C5H6== 5:D28C665]k^Am kAmx? 96C @A:?:@? @G6CCF=:?8 E96 56>FCC6C[ E96 ;F586 DF886DE65 E92E E96 5676?D6 925 8@?6 @77 E@A:4 H96? 5:DAFE:?8 r=2J’D 4=2:>D 23@FE u~xp]k^AmkAm“s676?52?E’D 2C8F>6?ED[ :? A2CE[ 2D< E96 4@FCE E@ DE6A :?E@ E96 C@=6 @7 2 724E 7:?56C E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 244FC24J @7 Wr=2J’DX 2==682E:@?D @7 u~xp G:@=2E:@?D[” r2C5H6== HC@E6[ 3FE “@? 56>FCC6C[ EC:2= 4@FCED 2C6 ?@E A6C>:EE65 E@ D6CG6 :? E9:D 42A24:EJ]”k^AmkAmx?DE625[ r2C5H6== HC@E6 E92E D96 >FDE 7@4FD @? E96 HC@?87F= E6C>:?2E:@? 4=2:> — 2?5 D96 :D 4@>A6==65 3J =2H E@ >2<6 “C62D@?23=6 :?76C6?46D :? 72G@C” @7 r=2J]k^Am kAm&?56C ':C8:?:2 =2H[ 6>A=@J66D 2C6 6=:8:3=6 7@C H9:DE=63=@H6C AC@E64E:@?D H96? E96J “5:D4=@D6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE DFDA64E65 HC@?85@:?8 @C 23FD6 … :? 8@@5 72:E9]” x? 96C @A:?:@? @G6CCF=:?8 E96 56>FCC6C[ r2C5H6== HC@E6 E92E[ H9:=6 r=2J ?6G6C 2==6865 23FD6[ 96C 24E:@?D >6E E96 @E96C 4C:E6C:2]k^Am kAm“Wr=2J’DX 4@>A=2:?E 6DE23=:D96D E92E D96 C6A62E65=J 5:D4=@D65 DFDA:4:@?D @7 ‘HC@?85@:?8[’” r2C5H6== HC@E6] “W$96X 2=D@ DF77:4:6?E=J 2==686D E92E 96C 5:D4=@DFC6 @7 DFDA64E65 HC@?85@:?8 H2D >256 :? 8@@5 72:E9 2?5 @? 2 C62D@?23=6 36=:67 E92E E96 :?7@C>2E:@? H2D 244FC2E6]”k^Am kAmr2C5H6== 2=D@ HC@E6 E92E r=2J’D 4=2D9 H:E9 qFC<D 4@F=5 ?@E 36 3@:=65 5@H? E@ 2 D:>A=6 5:D28C66>6?E 3642FD6 r=2J “56E2:=D WqFC<D’X 5:D@C56C=J 2AAC@249 E@ :?G6?E@CJ:?8[ :?G@:4:?8[ 2?5 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ u~xp C6BF6DED]”k^AmkAm%92E D9@HD 8@@5 72:E9[ r2C5H6== 2C8F65]k^Am kAmp7E6C AC@E6DE:?8 2E =62DE ?:?6 E:>6D[ r=2J H2D “C6E2=:2E65 2?5 5:D4C:>:?2E65 282:?DE[” 244@C5:?8 E@ r2C5H6==] qFC<D C67FD65 E@ 2AAC@G6 r=2J’D C6BF6DE E@ 2EE6?5 2 4@?76C6?46 :? (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r] 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 7:C65 96C]k^Am kAm“pD Wr=2JX 6IA6C:6?465 E9:D EC62E>6?E D9@CE=J 27E6C 96C C6A62E65 C6A@CED @7 DFDA64E65 G:@=2E:@?D[ :E >2J C62D@?23=J 36 :?76CC65 E92E 5676?52?ED’ C6E2=:2E@CJ 2?5 5:D4C:>:?2E@CJ 4@?5F4E” 3C62<D DE2E6 H9:DE=63=@H6C =2H[ r2C5H6== 2C8F65]k^Am kAmp 4:EJ DA@<6DA6CD@? 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E] ~77:4:2=D 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? E96 42D6[ 4:E:?8 E96 @?8@:?8 =:E:82E:@?]k^Am kAmx? 2 DE2E6>6?E[ #@33 D2:5 D96 2?5 r=2J “2AAC64:2E6 E96 r@FCE’D CF=:?8]”k^Am kAm“xE :D H92E H6 2?E:4:A2E65 32D65 @? E96 =2H[” #@33 D2:5] “(6 9@A6 E9:D 724:=:E2E6D C6D@=FE:@?]”k^Amk9am$F:E :D @?6 @7 EH@ 2==68:?8 C6E2=:2E:@?k^9amkAm%96 564:D:@? 4@>6D 27E6C 2 y2?] ah 962C:?8 @? E96 56>FCC6C]k^AmkAmr=2J AC6G:@FD=J E@=5 %96 %:>6D\s:DA2E49 E92E @77:4:2=D H6C6 DE2==:?8 @? E96 DF:E 3J C67FD:?8 E@ 28C66 E@ 2 962C:?8 52E6] r2C5H6== >6E H:E9 3@E9 D:56D @? }@G] aa[ 2?5 2== A2CE:6D 28C665 E@ 2 $6A] ab\ad EC:2=]k^Am kAm%96 =2HDF:E :D @?6 @7 2E =62DE EH@ A6?5:?8 282:?DE E96 4:EJ] x? s646>36C[ 7@C>6C r:EJ w2== 6>A=@J66 y2>J46 ':?D@? 7:=65 2 4=2:> 282:?DE @77:4:2=D 2==68:?8 D96 H2D A=2465 @? :?567:?:E6[ F?A2:5 =62G6 3J 7:?2?46 56A2CE>6?E s:C64E@C $96:=2 (9:E6 27E6C C6A@CE:?8 C64@?4:=:2E:@? :DDF6D E@ E96 4:EJ’D :?DA64E@C 86?6C2=]k^AmkAm':?D@?’D C6A@CE =65 E@ 2? :?G6DE:82E:@? 3J E96 :?DA64E@C 86?6C2=’D @77:46[ H9:49 F=E:>2E6=J 56E6C>:?65 ':?D@?’D 4=2:>D H6C6 ECF6 2?5 E92E E96 7:?2?46 56A2CE>6?E’D A@@C @C ?@?6I:DE6?E C64@?4:=:2E:@? AC@465FC6D =65 E@ 2 S`c >:==:@? 5:D4C6A2?4J 36EH66? 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 Unable to play video AP top stories for April 20 2-week ceasefire between U.S. and Iran set to expire Tuesday 2-week ceasefire between U.S. and Iran set to expire Tuesday Eight Children Killed In Louisiana Domestic Violence Shooting Eight Children Killed In Louisiana Domestic Violence Shooting Japan: Earthquake Shakes Train In Tohoku. Japan: Earthquake Shakes Train In Tohoku.
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]
![A1 Minute! February 5, 2025; Shockoe Bottom's 'Portals', Train bridge maintenance, 40th Anniversary All-Diamond team [A1]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/swvatoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/21/b21eee1b-13d6-572a-83aa-3d75fd14f51a/69a85e4b5bfef.image.jpg)
