Editor’s Note: 

The day after this article was published in The “Times” print edition, the following Petition was removed from District Court in Freestone County and was not presented on May 9th. 

It is expected to be filed in U.S. Federal Court in Waco. 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

Wrongful termination and racial discrimination are the claims of a civil suit recently filed by former Freestone County employee, Dianne Manning, who has served as Chief Deputy under County Clerk Linda Jarvis for the past seven years.

Mrs. Manning filed a Petition For Depositions Before Suit against Mrs. Jarvis on April 12th, and a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning, May 9th in Judge Deborah Oakes Evan’s 87th District Court.

Judge Evans has recused herself from this case; and Judge Dwight Phifer, Senior Judge of the Second District Court in the Tenth Administrative Judicial Region, has been assigned as Presiding Judge.

The petition cites that Mrs. Manning was “wrongfully terminated by Mrs. Jarvis for political affiliation and that she was also subject to racial discrimination; violating Mrs. Manning’s First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech under the U.S. Constitution.”

Claims also state that Mrs. Manning has not only lost her job, but has lost wages, retirement benefits, health insurance, and has been subject to mistreatment and ridicule by Mrs. Jarvis.

Employment background in the County Clerk’s office for the two ladies shows that Mrs. Jarvis served as Chief Deputy under prior County Clerk Mary Lynn White for seven years, while Mrs. Manning was employed for the County since 1994, the last 14 years in the County Clerk’s office.

When Mrs. White retired in 2010, the two ran against each other for the open position. Mrs. Jarvis was elected; and she selected Mrs. Manning as her Chief Deputy, where she was employed until her termination on Tuesday, March 27th.

Both parties declined to give a statement on the matter.

Mrs. Manning will be represented by Attorney Chad Morgan of Fairfield.
Representing Mrs. Jarvis is Attorney David Ryan Iglesias with the Texas Association of Counties.