Former CFO Sues City of Rogers, Mayor Hines

Former Rogers city treasurer and CFO Jerry Hudlow, who was fired last spring, is suing the city of Rogers and mayor Greg Hines for wrongful termination.

According to documents filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, the suit names Hines as a defendant both as an individual and in his official capacity as mayor.

The cause of action is described as a “deprivation of property and liberty interests without due process.”

Hines fired the 59-year-old Hudlow for “repeated and unchanged behavior as unbecoming of a city employee”, according to a Personnel Action Report.

The document, produced by Hines and sent to several media outlets on May 14, described six instances collectively termed “a series of ethical and professional errors that are incompatible for continued employment with the City of Rogers.”

Hudlow worked at city hall for nearly a decade. Former mayor and now U.S. Congressman Steve Womack appointed him city treasurer on Aug. 27, 2002.

The appointment, according to the court filings, was confirmed on the same date by a 7-1 vote of the Roger City Council.

Hines, then a member of the city council, cast the lone vote against the appointment.

Hudlow, according to the complaint, was called to Hines’ office at 8 a.m. on May 14 to meet with the mayor and Roger city attorney Ben Lipscomb. Hudlow was told he had the option of resigning or be fired.

Hudlow, according to the filing, refused to resign, protesting that he had done nothing wrong.

Hines then produced a letter and presented it to Hudlow, which read:

“Please accept this letter as official notification of immediate termination. The City of Rogers is no longer in need of your services. Any and all city owned property in your possession should be returned immediately. Your final paycheck will include the payout of any accrued vacation time.”

Hudlow then told Hines and Lipscomb they were violating the city’s ordinances by attempting to remove him from office in this manner.”

Hines, according to the complaint, then accompanied Hudlow to Hudlow’s office and demanded the key and access key fob to Hudlow’s office.

Hines threatened to call the police if Hudlow did not leave the building. Hines later told Hudlow to,”Get the (expletive) out of my building,” according to the complaint.

Hudlow is requesting a trial by jury. The case has been assigned to Judge Jimm Larry Hendren.

When reached by telephone, Hudlow said his lawyer —Rogers attorney Stephen Wood — had advised him not to comment.

Wood, whose practice focuses primarily on employment law, did not return a phone call seeking comment.