Federal panel rules against firing

Mathis Winkler

Thursday, March 7, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

North Las Vegas city officials violated federal law by firing an employee because she supported a colleague's discrimination complaint against the city, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled.

City officials dispute the commission's findings, saying they terminated Julie Greisen because of poor job performance. They said they will decide early next week whether to settle the matter out of court or face the allegations before a judge.

Greisen, who was fired from her job in the Public Works Department last September, said she was happy about the Feb. 25 ruling.

"I feel vindicated, but the process is still not over," she said, adding that she began working for the city in December 1997.

According to Greisen, city officials began harassing her after she supported her supervisor's internal complaint of discrimination based on his age and national origin.

Assistant City Manager Dan Tarwater, who is responsible for personnel issues, said city officials were not happy with the way commission officials investigated the matter.

"We would prefer them to come and interview people here" to get a better understanding of city procedures, he said.