Lawsuit: Bing Aimed To Become EMF Of City, Schools
DETROIT (WWJ) - A former aide to Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is filing a lawsuit, seeking $750,000 to settle a threatened civil suit against the city, Mayor Dave Bing and communications chief Karen Dumas.
In the suit, filed Wednesday, Rochelle Collins claims that Bing has been lobbying to become an Emergency Financial Manager for the city and the Detroit Public Schools.
Collins said she worked with a consultant paid for by the Bing Institute to conduct polling of Detroit citizens whether they support Mayoral control over DPS, the results of which showed overwhelming support for the idea.
The lawsuit says Collins "Worked with stakeholders to ensure that Public Act 4 contained all necessary provisions to accomplish the goals of the strategy, which included Defendant Mayor Bing being named Emergency Manager for the City of Detroit and DPS, and dissolving both the Detroit City Council and the DPS School Board."
The suit also alleges that Bing took part in secret meetings with Governor Rick Snyder to work on this plan, and that Collins worked closely with the Governor's Administration and the existing DPS Emergency Manager to finalize details of the transition.
- View a Copy of the Lawsuit -
Collins says she was wrongfully terminated as an executive assistant in Bing's office.
According to a letter from Collins' attorney to the city of Detroit, along with the financial settlement, Collins seeking her job back at a salary of $125,000 to $150,000 per year. Among other things, she also wants an apology from Bing along with promises that she will be able to work directly with the Mayor and will not have to interact with Dumas in the course of her duties
In a written statement, Bing said "It's unfortunate that anyone would attempt to use their position with the city for personal gain at a time when we continue to battle for our fiscal survival."
In a message to WWJ Newsradio 950, Dumas said she has no comment at this time.
