Read more: Local, Crime, Politics, Sylvia Handy, Fbi, Maria Ybarra, Retaliation, Fmla, Family Medical Leave Act, Hidalgo County Precinct 1, Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Action4exclusives
A federal lawsuit is now pending against Hidalgo County Pct. 1 Commissioner Sylvia Handy.
An ex-county worker alleges discrimination and retaliation stemming from “wrongful termination.”
Fernando Mancias represents the plaintiff in the lawsuit, Maria Ybarra.
"Anxiety, depression and just a lot of stress," is how Mancias describes how his client is feeling.
The 20-year veteran Pct. 1 county worker alleges she was wrongfully terminated back in February just one month into a three-month stint under the protection of FMLA or the Family and Medical Leave Act.
"She was an exemplary employee for all these years and then she goes on FMLA and then gets fired," he said.
Handy reportedly cited “insubordination” and Ybarra's “failure to report employee wrongdoing” as reasons for termination.
But the FMLA issue is only part of the story.
It turns out that Ybarra is also a witness in a federal indictment against Handy.
Mancias told Action 4 News that his client’s cooperation with an FBI investigation also led to her firing.
Handy is accused of misusing more than $100,000 in taxpayer money for personal use among other things.
While she has not publicly commented about the case since her indictment, Mancias alleges the county commissioner tried to get Ybarra to take the fall.
Ybarra served the county as HR Coordinator and was so-called “right hand man” to Handy for many years.
"All you have to do is look at the timing,” Mancias said. “She's out on leave. She's talking about issues at the office. She gets fired. The timing tells you everything. It's retaliation.”
The McAllen attorney said the decision could cost county taxpayers in the end.
Ybarra’s attorney wants to hold the county liable for Handy's alleged actions.
Neither the county’s attorney nor Handy’s office returned our phone calls for comment on the pending lawsuit.
Handy is expected to be served with the lawsuit on Friday.
