Ex-Volusia corrections director sues county, alleges violation of Whistle-Blower Act
Former Volusia County Corrections Director Mark Flowers, who was fired by the county earlier this year, has filed a lawsuit accusing Volusia County of retaliation and violating the state Whistle-Blower Act.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Volusia County Circuit Court and accuses the county of retaliating against Flowers after he reported suspected violations of laws and rules involving the alleged beating of an inmate by staff at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
The county stripped Flowers of job duties, removed him from his office and had him work out of a conference room after he made the report, the lawsuit states. The county also investigated, isolated and humiliated Flowers before ultimately firing him, it says.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the incident involving the inmate at the jail and the State Attorney’s Office found no reason to bring charges.
Flowers is represented by Attorney Kelly H. Chanfrau, who stated that additional counts will be added to the lawsuit, which currently contains the one count of violating the Florida Public Sector Whistle-Blower Act, which protects employees from retaliation when they report wrongdoing.
Intent to fire appealed: Volusia Corrections Director Mark Flowers appeals the county's intent to fire him
The News-Journal has requested a response from the county.
The county fired Flowers on Jan. 6, saying he had lost the support of many, “if not all,” command staff and many correctional officers at the jail. Documents related to an internal affairs investigation stated that Flowers created a hostile work environment and alleged he threatened employees about their jobs and coerced employees into doing things they were not comfortable with.
Flowers was recruited in 2014 to work for Volusia County “until he retired” the lawsuit stated.
Flowers seeks back pay and front pay, which is money from the time of trial until sometime in the future, and other damages, including damages for emotional distress.
Flowers' work was praised and he was offered a promotion in the fall of 2021 to deputy director.
Things changed after Flowers submitted a formal request on May 12, 2022, for an internal affairs investigation that jail staff had allegedly beaten up an inmate.
New director hired: Volusia County Council unanimously approves new corrections director, will start in July
“Immediately after, plaintiff experienced retaliation and discrimination that only intensified with each day, resulting in a hostile work environment from his co-workers and staff,” the lawsuit stated.
Flowers took leave for cancer surgery in June 2022 and when he returned to work Aug. 3, 2022, he was told to work from a conference room.
“This action was taken to cause embarrassment and humiliate plaintiff,” the lawsuit states.
Flowers submitted a written complaint to Volusia County on Aug. 12, 2022, and was placed on administrative leave three days later.
The lawsuit states that County Manager George Recktenwald told Flowers that Flowers' "cancer diagnosis had changed him and has led him to make bad decisions."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ex-Volusia corrections director sues county for retaliation
