CHARLOTTE --  The City of Charlotte has agreed to pay Crystal Eschert and her attorney $1,135,100.27 after Eschert sued the city for wrongful termination from her position with the Charlotte Fire Department.

However, the City of Charlotte is not admitting to any wrong-doing, even after a court ruled in Eschert's favor in May.

“The City Council decided it was best to end this dispute and move on,” said City Attorney Bob Hagemann. “While the city respects the jury’s verdict and the court’s rulings, this settlement should not be interpreted as agreement, or an admission of wrongdoing or liability. To the contrary, the city defended itself based on a conviction that Ms. Eschert’s termination was justified and lawful.”

The breakdown of funds the city has agreed to pay Eschert is as follows:

  • $464,538 in back pay and compensatory damages 
  • $42,037.97 in pre- and post-judgment interest 
  • $628,524.30 in attorney costs, paid to Maloney Law & Associates.

 

Previously Reported:

CHARLOTTE -- After deliberating all day Thursday, a jury in a case of Crystal Eschert vs. The City of Charlotte, ruled in favor of Eschert.

Eschert sued the city, saying she was wrongfully terminated from the Charlotte Fire Department because she spoke out about safety concerns at a department building on North Graham Street.

  • 4 questions resulted in damages of about $1.5 million for Eschert.
  • Eschert made a Facebook post about Ferguson, Missouri in the aftermath of the Mike Brown shooting, calling people "thugs." 
  • Jury agrees with Eschert -- says she was terminated due to speaking out about safety concerns. 

For now, the jury agreed with Eschert, and said she can claim money in damages.

8 jurors ruled in favor of Crystal Eschert, and awarded her about $1.5 million

The jury said there was enough evidence to say that the former arson investigator was fired not because of her Facebook post about Ferguson, Missouri in which she called people "thugs,” but because the Charlotte Fire Department was retaliating against her.

She had spoken out about possible mold issues at a fire department building on North Graham Street.

Eschert was fired a few years ago. She filed this lawsuit last year.

But city attorneys say this isn't over yet.

Attorney Bob Hagemann released a statement, saying "A judgment has not been entered as there are a number of legal rulings that still must be made. Since the trial is not over, it would be inappropriate for the city to comment at this time."