Oklahoma health department sued by former employees

OKLAHOMA CITY — More than 150 current and former employees of the Oklahoma State Department of Health are suing the department for unnecessarily terminating or furloughing them in 2017 and 2018.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Oklahoma County District Court by 156 people alleges wrongful termination, negligence, fraud and violation of the employees’ constitutional and due process rights.

The layoffs and furloughs came as department officials said the agency faced a $30 million budget shortfall that threatened its ability to meet its payroll.

An audit and grand jury investigation later found the layoffs and a $30 million emergency state appropriation approved in late 2017 were unnecessary because the agency maintained a “slush fund” hidden from the governor’s office and lawmakers that would have covered the alleged deficit.

Read more: https://www.swtimes.com/news/20190306/oklahoma-health-department-sued-by-former-employees