Woman files lawsuit against housing authority
Oct. 4—ASOTIN — A complaint for damages has been filed in Asotin County Superior Court by Sundie Woodbury against the Housing Authority of Asotin County.
According to court documents, Woodbury was hired by the housing authority Oct. 1, 2021, by Director Susan Clark. The intent was for Woodbury to become the executive director of the agency.
In February 2022, Woodbury had an emergency appendectomy and was off work for a few days. After returning to work, she said Clark started to give her the silent treatment, but Woodbury was told she was on track to become the next executive director.
In April of that same year, Woodbury learned she needed lower back surgery and would need to miss work for up to eight weeks in September. At that time, Woodbury claims she was excluded from projects, including repositioning apartments in a flood zone.
In September, Woodbury reportedly told Clark her back surgery had been denied by insurance, but her surgeon was appealing the decision. Woodbury was then told she would become an hourly employee and was removed from her supervisory position, according to the lawsuit.
On Oct. 10, Woodbury's daughter, Abriauna, was killed by an alleged drunk driver in Arizona, and her funeral took place Oct. 29. When she texted her boss about coming back to work by mid-November, Clark reportedly said she wanted to talk and show her some papers.
According to the lawsuit, they met at Woodbury's home on Nov. 9, and Clark brought long-term disability papers, saying she could be deemed disabled for mental health reasons. Woodbury, who hired an attorney, was terminated Dec. 7.
In the claim, Woodbury and her attorneys alleged Clark was aware her daughter had tragically died, yet she still made "cruel and insensitive comments regarding her mental state and mental health and fired her." The conduct of the housing authority's agent was described as "extreme and outrageous" in the complaint, and resulted in severe emotional distress for the plaintiff.
Woodbury is seeking compensation for economic and noneconomic damages with the amount to be determined at trial, along with attorney costs. She is represented by Matthew Z. Crotty and Michael B. Love of the Riverside Law Group in Spokane.
The Asotin County Housing Authority has not yet responded to the complaint, which was filed Monday.
Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com.
