The city of Greenwood is asking to be dismissed from a discrimination lawsuit filed by an employee of the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The city, in a defense filed on Friday, argues that it is an improper defendant. It states that the Mississippi Legislature has provided the ability to sue the CVB in an individual capacity.
The employee, Ashley Farmer, has sued both entities, alleging she was not hired for the position of executive director of the CVB because she is white. She alleged that Patrick Ervin, who is Black, was hired purely for racial reasons.
She also has alleged her salary was cut by approximately $10,000 in an effort to make her quit her position.
In its defense, the city has denied the allegations.
“Farmer has no claim against the City of Greenwood,” the defense said. “She was never employed by the City. Her employer at all times was the CVB. The Court should dismiss the City.”
The CVB, through its governing body, the Greenwood Tourism Commission, has denied the allegations brought by Farmer.
Ervin served as executive director for five months. He resigned two weeks ago to become editor and publisher of The Enterprise-Tocsin, the Commonwealth’s sister newspaper in Indianola.
The commission has chosen not to name an interim director and will solicit an outside agency to handle the hiring of Ervin’s successor. Ervin’s hiring was done internally by the commission.
Farmer has said she plans to apply for the position again. Her discrimination lawsuit isn’t scheduled to head to trial until April 2023.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
