Mayor Bing Target Of Whistleblower Lawsuit

DETROIT (WWJ) - Mayor Dave Bing is facing a lawsuit filed by a former employee who claims she was fired for trying to stop City Hall from misspending money.

Former Department of Human Services Director Shenetta Coleman was fired back in May after purchasing $200,000 in office furniture with federal grant money; a purchase she contends was allowable under the grant and later acknowledged by the mayor.

Now, Coleman says the real reason she was fired was for objecting to plans from the mayor's staff and what she calls "illegal expenditures with grant money," such as renovating the city's Health Department headquarters, paying down pension obligations and doubling staffing costs as a way to free up more department grant money for the city.

Coleman's attorney says the city is trying to make her client look like a villain. No comment from the mayor's office.