Fired County Worker Drops Lawsuit Claim

Former Orange County retirement fund administrator Mary-Jean Hackwood has asked a judge to dismiss the remainder of her lawsuit against the retirement board, which claimed breach of contract and civil rights violations when she was fired in 1996.

An Orange County Superior Court judge last month dismissed two of Hackwood’s three claims in her lawsuit, originally filed in federal court. Attorney Keith Parker of Irvine said Hackwood’s request to voluntarily drop the third was a “strategic decision.”

“We believed it to be in her best interest,” Parker said.

Phillip D. Eaton, special counsel for the retirement system, was notified of Hackwood’s request last week.

The system’s board of directors argued that it did nothing wrong in firing Hackwood after an investigation chronicled more than two dozen instances in which she allegedly had employees perform personal chores, including mailing greeting cards, washing her car and wrapping Christmas gifts.

“I think basically this is the end of it and she wants to get on with her life,” Eaton said.

Last month, Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas N. Thrasher Sr. dismissed Hackwood’s breach-of-contract claims against the county. Parker said Hackwood hasn’t decided whether to appeal that ruling.

Her remaining claim argued that she had been denied a “liberty interest hearing” in which public employees accused of wrongdoing in a manner that questions their character are allowed to formally respond.

Hackwood had asked for $48,000 in severance pay, attorneys fees, court costs and punitive damages stemming from her termination.

She first was demoted and moved to an office away from contact with other employees but then was fired after employees complained.