Ex-Worker Who Claimed Illness Drops Effort to Get Job Back

A former city planning associate who charged her firing by city officials violated federal disability laws will no longer seek to get her job back, her attorney said.

In a letter to the city, an attorney for Sallyanne Mallen withdrew an appeal to reinstate Mallen, who suffers from Epstein Barr virus, a chronic fatigue condition. Mallen, 50, has accused the city of violating federal laws by refusing to accommodate her disability.

Mallen decided not to seek reinstatement because she believed a three-day hearing before the City Council last month demonstrated she would return to a hostile workplace, said the attorney, Linda Thorton.

During the hearing, however, city officials and attorneys said Mallen was fired because she disregarded supervisors and was constantly late. A medical expert for the city testified Mallen did not suffer from the virus.

Thorton said Mallen plans to continue with a federal lawsuit seeking damages for violation of her civil and property rights, invasion of privacy and discrimination.