The previous Spokane County well being officer who believes he was fired final yr because of unpopular selections he made to attempt to include COVID-19 has filed a declare with the well being district, which may result in a lawsuit.
The Spokesman-Assessment experiences Dr. Bob Lutz filed the executive declare on Oct. 8. Robert Carlson, Lutz’s legal professional, stated the hope is that the district determines Lutz’s declare has benefit and can work to resolve the difficulty out of court docket.
Lutz is claiming at the very least $1.4 million in damages for wrongful termination along with “defamation, emotional misery, psychological anguish and damage to skilled popularity” because of his firing in October 2020.
The well being district has 60 days to answer Lutz’s declare, at which level Lutz may proceed with a lawsuit.
The Board of Well being Chairwoman Mary Kuney didn’t reply to request for remark.
In his declare, Lutz maintains that his firing was unlawful below state and well being district bylaws and he asks to be reinstated because the well being officer and awarded the requested damages.
The declare particulars a number of examples of alleged political strain and stress between Lutz and sure Board of Well being members all through 2020, particularly when the county was caught in restricted phases because of COVID-19 case charges.
Lutz was employed by the Division of Well being quickly after he was fired, in a job to assist the state’s ongoing COVID-19 response.
“I took a stand for Public Well being. It value me my job,” Lutz stated in an announcement launched by way of his legal professional on Wednesday. “As a public well being doctor, it has been my accountability to guard the general public’s well being and security.”
