Saturday, April 13, 2013

Ex-TDCJ PIO Lyons heads to trial with lawsuit alleging retaliation by TDCJ

Michelle Lyons
By Doug Glass, Backgate Website

Ex-TDCJ Public Information Officer Michelle Lyons, who worked for the prison system for nearly 14 years before being constructively terminated almost a year ago, may be closer to her day in court. Lyons, who was removed from her position within the agency after voicing concerns about the agencies time keeping protocol, was moved to another department and punished for speaking out. Lyons later emailed us here at the Backgate regarding those issues and was subsequently disciplined for that as well. After being charged with yet another disciplinary unfairly, Lyons decided  to resign her position with the TDCJ. She applied for benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and was denied after a hearing was conducted with the TDCJ regarding her "resignation". TDCJ enlisted an attorney from the office of general counsel (OGC) to assist the state in fighting the request for benefits from Ms. Lyons.

This is to our knowledge the first time TDCJ has enlisted an OGC attorney to fight against the agency paying unemployment benefits to an employee. All other hearings are fought by unit level administrators or department managers over the phone with the TWC. Why bring out the big guns  unless your trying to prove a point, or use the denial as a means of retribution or retaliation? The TWC subsequently denied her claim. Ms. Lyons filed an appeal and the TWC board found that she did in fact meet the criteria for being constructively fired by the agency, and implemented her benefits.

We received information from Michelle today that stated that the TDCJ has elected to go forward, refusing to settle, and proceed to trial.  In choosing to ignore their obvious wrongdoing in the matter, TDCJ has now decided to use thousands in state tax payer funds to defend itself against it's own blatant corruption and unfair practices towards it's own employees. It seems to be easier to proceed and fight a losing battle when the money you play with isn't yours. At this point there is no word on when the trial may begin, but both parties are in the process of being deposed in preparation for the trial. We will be front and center when and if a trial does move forward. And to all of you Texas tax payers out there tired of seeing your hard earned tax dollars being flushed down the toilet because a state agency wants to bully it's employees into submission, email or call your local representative and let them know how you feel.

13 comments:

  1. That's them good ol boys for ya. I hope she gets millions. She is a good lady. I'm tired of hard working people took advantage of. I left TDCJ and never been so happy to get away from all the corruption that goes on. I worked with worst crooks than what was locked up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I feel bad for this former employee! I'm happy that she is standing up for herself against this mob ( TDCJ ). To many people get screwed by this agency and do nothing. It's a lot of lying and crooked people who are calling the shots for the agency on a daily basis that are dumb and stupid. I don't know how these people get or got chosen but I guess it was off politics. I was a CO for a little bit and hated every minute because he was a crooked system for the officer work in. I worked with some decent people but the leadership sucked big time!!! I went in expecting to much I guess but a person would think that a profession of this caliber would be more professional than what it is. I hope she breaks the bank but I hate us tax payers are the ones who is going to have to pay for this trial.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tdcj is a death trap for every innocent and sincere person wishing to get and keep a decent job. The thugs in power will frustrate you, try to set u up or blackmail you.They seem to get away with it too. But there might be a day of justice. Hope and pray and talk.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My prayers are with you, Michelle. Don't quit fight to the end. The winner is the one still standing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This lady lied for TDCJ every day for years and now she turns around and sues them? She lied for a living and now we are supposed to believe her? She is no friend of the working people....she has never cared or related to the officers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From the Desk of BoBoTheBeaten:

      What exactly do you think she lied about? Her job was to relate information from Exective Leadership. She came into her position not knowing crap so how could she know she was relating bullshit? She didn't give her opinion about events as they occurred, she just related information that was given to her. Had she deviated from the company line then she would have been fired for some made up reason. People typially try to avoid being fired and conflict with their bosses. I think she stayed a "company man" as long as she could. You should support her for exposing TDCJ leadership now.

      Delete
  6. I left after over 17 years.glad i did n will not go back.too bad a lot of good workers decide to keep quiet n do the job n go home.that is ok but the corrupt have to be stopped.hard to work safely n with your head held high when you have bad folks working against you.makes your life hard at work.no amount of money can really keep you safe.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Karma is a bi--h

    ReplyDelete
  8. There will come a day when former female officers and front office workers will file a class action discrimination suit and when the paper trail of lies is exposed in all those fake disciplinaries and IOC's written by a lot of gossiping busy bodies, TDCJ will be broke and HOPEFULLY taken over by the Texas Rangers or the fed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know how the rangers would run it but I have worked for BOP before andtook a huge pay cut to come back to TDCJ no saying I like it but Feds are more corrupt than tdcj and yes it is possible I should know...

      Delete
  9. Get em girl! I ve seen high ranking unit officials falsify documents and change statements to legitimize brutal treatment of inmates. Now if you lay with the dogs (literally) than you can stay around but if you choose to have morals and refuse their advances than you may be harassed or get investigated on trumped up charges. Better to quit than to withstand the ridicule. Been there, done that.

    ReplyDelete