Opinion ID: 66766
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Termination of Thomas

Text: Thomas was employed as an administrative assistant to defendant A. Mark Lee, the Solicitor General of Effingham County. On June 21, 2005, Lee personally informed Thomas that she was terminated for making disparaging remarks about county officials and improperly using the county’s computers. Thomas immediately requested a hearing. Lee denied Thomas’s request on grounds that she was not a merit system employee subject to the county’s personnel rules. On the same day, Lee sent Thomas a letter confirming her termination. Thomas submitted a formal written request, dated June 21, 2005, to Lee and Effingham County’s human resources director to appeal her discharge. On June 22, 2005, Lee sent Thomas another letter reiterating and elaborating upon the grounds for her dismissal. On June 29, 2005, Thomas sent a second appeal request, stating that if she did not receive a response within five days, she would deem the appeal denied. Thomas received no response to her second request. 2