TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — The former executive director for the Florida Commission Human Relations (FCHR) claims she was fired for refusing to perform illegal acts.
Michelle Wilson filed a complaint May 25 in Leon County Circuit Court against the FCHR and Cheyanne Costilla, in her official capacity and individually, alleging First Amendment violations, violation of the Florida Constitution and other claims.
According to her complaint, Wilson worked for the FCHR for 17 years and served as the agency's executive director for nine years. She claims that she was asked to perform illegal acts during her tenure, including that she use "no-cause determinations" for employment discrimination claims that had not yet been investigated.
Wilson alleges that because she insisted on following the law, she was fired on Oct. 15, 2020. She further alleges that in December of 2020, she filed a whistleblower charge against the FCHR and the Office of the Chief Inspector General. Wilson claims that the FCHR, despite its obvious conflict, processed its own charge and denied her claim, which caused her to file an appeal in the First District Court of Appeal to challenge the agency's determination.
According to her complaint, the appeals court found the FCHR to have "an inherent power to decline jurisdiction over a whistleblower charge" but failed to address the constitutional issues of her case.
Wilson seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Richard Johnson of The Law Office of Richard E. Johnson in Tallahassee.
Leon County Circuit Court case number 2023-CA-001569