Mullin's Attorney: No Reason For Her Firing
DETROIT (WWJ) - As the Detroit Metro Airport Authority Board searches for a new director, ex-airport CEO Turkia Mullin and her lawyer are planning their legal battle over her dismissal.
Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 Tuesday morning, attorney Raymond Sterling said he and his client are still waiting to find out why she was fired.
"It was extremely suspicious that they came out and they refused to give a reason," said Sterling. "And one of the board members even was critical of that. He said there is no reason."
"If there were a reason, we invited it. We asked. And they said there's just cause and that's it. So, we don't think that there is a reason whatsoever," he said.
Hear our complete interview with Sterling:
Mullin Attorney Interview
Mullin was only CEO of the airport for about two months when the board ousted her in a 5-2 vote on Monday.
Sterling said there is a clause in Mullin's contract that says arbitration should have been attempted first
"We think that arbitration is probably a pretty good route for her to take. It's headed up by a professional who's used to and experienced in interpreting contracts and we believe that that might be a really good forum for her to pursue."
County workers who recently accepted pay cuts cried foul when Mullin was paid $200,000 in severance as she left her job as Wayne County Economic Development Director to work at the airport. Two county employees were suspended and one was let go in connection with the controversy.
Mullin eventually returned the money. The FBI is investigating.