Fire investigator awarded $1.5 million in whistleblower suit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A federal jury has awarded $1.5 million to a former North Carolina fire investigator who said she was fired after complaining about the safety of construction work at an office building. 

According to the Charlotte Observer, a jury ruled Thursday in favor of Crystal Eschert, who said the Charlotte Fire Department fired her in 2014 because of her concerns over renovations at a new office building. 

Eschert says she drew attention to what she claimed were unhealthy living conditions, specifically mold, in the remodeled building that houses several fire department units, CBS affiliate WBTV reported. 

Officials in Charlotte, however, said Eschert was let go because of a Facebook post in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown, a black teenager, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The city said the firing was justified because the post could have led to community unrest. 

The post, which was made about 10 days after Brown's shooting on Aug. 20, 2014, was restricted to Eschert's friends on Facebook.

It reads: "White guy shot by police yesterday near Ferguson. Where is Obama? Where is Holder? Where is Al Sharpton? Where are Trayvon Martin's parents? Where are all the white guys supporters? So is everyone MAKING it a racial issue? So tired it's a racial thing. If you are a thug and worthless to society, it's not race - You're just a waste no matter what religion, race or sex you are." 

The lawsuit states Eschert "was relying on an erroneous news report that the shooting had taken place near Ferguson, Missouri, which she later learned was incorrect," WBTV reported. After learning correct information about the shooting, Eschert "took down the post promptly." 

Her attorney, Meg Maloney, said the Facebook post was an excuse to fire Eschert. At the time of the post, she was a fire investigator who had received good performance reviews.

Much of the trial focused on free speech and political correctness. One juror, who asked not to be identified for privacy reasons, said Eschert had a right to speak her mind.

It's unclear if the city will appeal the verdict to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia. The city council and Mayor Jennifer Roberts are expected to discuss in a closed meeting whether the city wants to continue the fight.

City Attorney Bob Hagemann would not talk about the verdict Thursday, saying "a judgment has not been entered as there are a number of legal rulings that still must be made."

Maloney said she expects the city to ask for the jury's verdict be lowered or nullified by U.S. Chief District Judge Frank Whitney.