The former director of the City of Meridian’s Community Development, Henry “Bunky” Partridge, has filed a civil complaint against Chief Administrative Officer Richie McAlister and Mayor Percy Bland in the 10th Circuit Court. 

On Monday, Partridge, through Hattiesburg attorney Daniel M. Waide, filed a complaint against the City of Meridian, McAlister and Bland over Partridge’s “forced resignation” in December of 2017. Partridge claims the city forced him to resign as a form of retaliation for complaining about McAlister.

The complaint, which represents one side of the case, claims that Bland and McAlister “shared a relationship prior to becoming CAO which seems to be the basis for Mr. McAlister’s hiring, given his lack of qualifications and experience.”

At some point, the complaint alleges, McAlister “began to harbor animosity and malice towards (sic) Plaintiff, apparently believing that Plaintiff was trying to have Mr. McAlister removed from office. Plaintiff had no such intentions, although it was well known in the community that Mr. McAlister was not well liked as the CAO of the City.”

Partridge, in the complaint, claims that McAlister harassed and intimidated him “for unknown reasons” and Bland refused to address the claims. 

“Plaintiff complained directly to the mayor about the statements made by Mr. McAlister. These complaints only made the situation and harassment worse,” the complaint reads. 

The complaint claims that Partridge tried to file an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint around June 14, 2017 against McAlister with the mayor but the mayor told Partridge, “everyone just needs to get along.”

Previously, Bland told The Star that he had never received an EEOC complaint against McAlister. Bland said he would directly receive complaints against McAlister but that all other EEOC complaints go through McAlister. 

By October, Partridge said he told the mayor he could no longer work for the city and he was forced to resign, effective on Dec. 19, 2017.

“Defendant McAlister is liable for maliciously and intentionally interfering with Plaintiff’s employment relationship with the City of Meridian and forcing Plaintiff to resign,” the complaint said. 

The complaint asks the court to declare the city’s actions as a violation of the First Amendment, as well as Title VII, and award compensation for lost wages, emotional distress and more. 

According to court documents, EEOC investigator Robin R. Scott notified Partridge of his right to sue the city on May 21, clearing the way for Partridge to file a suit against the city if filed within 90 days.

A voicemail left with Waide, Partridge’s attorney, wasn’t returned on Tuesday. The number for Partridge listed in the complaint has been disconnected. 

Neither the city, McAlister nor Bland, as confirmed by the court documents, had yet been served the summons for the case and city attorneys from Glover, Young, Hammack, Walton & Simmons, PLLC declined to comment on Tuesday.

Bland released the following statement: “I am surprised and disappointed that Mr. Patridge would file this suit. He turned in his notice, retired, applied for his PERS payments and then filed this suit. This suit has no merit and we will defend it vigorously.”