Hilbun’s Reputed Target May Sue Postal Service : Security: Kim Springer had complained of harassment by man accused of Dana Point post office shootings. She hires an attorney who says, ‘The question is, what is being done to protect employees?’

Kim Springer, the 29-year-old postal worker who reportedly had been stalked by murder suspect Mark Richard Hilbun, remained in seclusion Tuesday, but she has retained an attorney and is considering legal action against the U.S. Postal Service.

Jack M. Earley, the Irvine-based attorney whom Springer hired on Monday, said: “There obviously have been reports of a lot of violence in post offices. So, the question is, what is being done to protect employees?

“At this point, we are exploring whether there is any legal action to be taken. But because of the barrage of attention the case has gotten, it’s been very hard to sit down and sort out thoughts.”

Earley said they expect to decide this week whether to sue.

Hilbun, 39, had gone to the Dana Point post office last Thursday, reportedly looking for Springer of Laguna Beach. The two had worked together before Hilbun was fired.

At the post office, Hilbun called out “Kim!” before shooting one employee and wounding another, authorities said. Springer, who hid under a desk, wasn’t injured.

Friends and relatives of Springer said Hilbun had been harassing her since last fall with notes and telephone calls which became increasingly more threatening in the days preceding the shootings.

“She’s very upset,” Earley said Tuesday. “She’s going through a lot. When you think about the intensity the public felt” while Hilbun was at large, “for her it was something that had been going on for quite awhile. She needs to be able to calm down and sort everything out.”

Springer’s mother, Sharon, said Tuesday: “I talk to her every day, and she’s doing a lot better. We’re just glad she’s safe, and we are trying to get our lives back to normal.”

Springer’s younger sister, Cynthia, said Tuesday that her sister has been particularly distraught over the death of postal worker Charles Barbagallo, whom Hilbun is charged with killing.

“She feels very badly for his family,” Cynthia Springer said. “We are all grieving with them and are very concerned about them.” Springer, who has not commented publicly on the case, attended a funeral in San Clemente on Monday for the 41-year-old Barbagallo, who was reportedly one of Hilbun’s closest friends.

Also Monday, Hilbun pleaded not guilty to 13 felony charges. He was charged with two counts of murder in the stabbing death of his 63-year-old mother in her Corona del Mar home and the shooting of Barbagallo at the Dana Point post office.

Hilbun also faces seven counts of attempted murder, two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and one count of attempted kidnaping.

After his two-day rampage of violence, Hilbun was arrested peacefully early Saturday morning when police found him watching television in a sports bar in Huntington Beach.

Hilbun apparently had been living mostly with his mother and sometimes with his sister since he was fired in December. Before that, he lived in Dana Point.

Springer was in protective custody while Hilbun was at large. Her family went into hiding outside of Orange County during the manhunt.

Postal authorities said Tuesday that they did not know when or if Springer would be returning to work.

“She’s asked for privacy,” said David Mazer, a Postal Service spokesman. “This woman has been traumatized. We’ll have to wait and see how she feels.”

Mazer said the Postal Service would “wait to see what occurs” regarding any potential litigation.

“The post office is doing a lot to protect its employees,” Mazer said. “But when these deranged individuals appear in the Postal Service or society, it’s very difficult to defend against.”