WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A new lawsuit says a Florida city's assistant parks director was demoted for complaining a former NFL player and registered sex offender was hired to coach youth sports.
Aladia Franks filed a complaint Oct 2 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against the City of Riviera Beach, alleging violation of the Florida Public Sector Whistleblower Act.
According to Franks' complaint, she was an assistant director of the Riviera Beach Parks and Recreation Department. She claims that on Aug. 2, 2023, she disclosed in an email that the department unlawfully hired Abram Elam, who is a registered sex offender, as the athletic director.
Franks alleges Elam was hired without the proper background check and that Elam's hiring also affected the squads for youth football and cheer due to the contractual relationship with the Pop Warner football program, which required background checks. Franks claims that two days after her disclosure about Elam, she was terminated from her position and reassigned to a position that did not exist and was required to work weekends and holidays.
The Elam hiring caused controversy this past summer. He and three others had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman while he attended Notre Dame University, and Elam was convicted of felony sexual battery and expelled.
Elam went to the NFL, where he started for three different teams during his career. Riviera Beach officials defended the hire, noting how long ago his conviction was and his work with nonprofits since then.
Franks seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Isidro Garcia of The Garcia Law Firm PA in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Palm Beach County Circuit Court case number 183002141