Evidence

Ex-Crime Lab Supervisors Sue Texas DA, Claim Pointing to Booze Breath-Test Issues Led to Retaliation

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print.

Two former supervisors at a troubled police crime laboratory in Houston, Texas, have sued the local district attorney, contending that they suffered retaliation after blowing the whistle about problems with portable breath-alcohol testing stations.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the plaintiffs, Amanda Culbertson and Jorge Wong, name three defendants in their suit, which was filed Monday in federal court: Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos, a prosecutor in her office and Harris County.

The suit contends that the two plaintiffs lost their jobs, had their licensing threatened and suffered unjustified damage to their profession reputations.

“The lawsuit is bigger than just their individual causes. It’s about those similarly situated who suffer from the same effects of the abuse of power and retaliation,” said attorney Chip Lewis, one of the lawyers involved in the suit.

The newspaper article doesn’t include any comment from the defendants.

Related coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Defense Lawyer’s Work at Routine Hearing Exposes Major Probation Drug-Test Issues; Shake-Up Results”

ABAJournal.com: “Runaway Grand Jury May Be Probing DA’s Office, Has Asked for 3 More Months and Special Prosecutor”

ABAJournal.com: “Both Sides Fire Parting Salvos as Runaway Grand Jury Probe of Texas DA’s Office Fizzles”

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.