By: A Maryland state employee who says he was fired after talking to a reporter who was working on a story about a politically sensitive farm purchase on the Eastern Shore has sued to regain his job.
Nelson Reichart, former assistant secretary for real estate in the Maryland General Services Department, was fired in June. His firing came soon after describing state procedures for evaluating land appraisals to a reporter for The Baltimore Sun.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Baltimore County Circuit Court, Reichart argues he was fired either because he is a white Republican, or because he talked to the reporter after getting permission to do so. Reichart asked the court to order him restored to his job.
"Few can fail to note the purge of white Republican appointees," Reichart argues in his lawsuit, listing five other Republicans in the department who have been fired since Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley took office in January.
The newspaper story was about a land deal on the Eastern Shore, where the state agreed to buy a 271-acre parcel for preservation. The land was bought at a price exceeding two state appraisals of its value.
The newspaper reported that the owner of the parcel, David Sutherland, has ties to the O'Malley administration. State officials have denied wrongdoing in the purchase, saying it was a worthy use of state preservation dollars.
Reichart told The Sun that when the state has two appraisals for a property, it usually pays a sum in between the two appraisals. The day after that story was printed, Reichart was fired.
Reichart, 59, argues in his suit that he was close to retirement and is trying to care for a handicapped daughter and an ailing wife. He asks for his job to be restored pending a review of his firing.
He also claims that his party affiliation caused his firing.
"It seems clear that the Secretary, an O'Malley appointee, fired Reichart ... because he was a Republican and not a part of the O'Malley Democratic machine. As such, the termination was illegal and unconstitutional," the lawsuit argues.
Reichart e-mailed the lawsuit to reporters Thursday but did not respond to questions about it.
"I feel that this litigation is necessary for my family, my future and for other State employees who might be faced with a similar situation," he said in a statement.
A spokesman for the Department of General Services, Dave Humphrey, said the department did not act improperly.
"We believe the Department of General Services acted legally, and the state will vigorously defend the lawsuit," Humphrey said
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