Hudlow Awarded $300,000 in Wrongful Termination Suit

Former Rogers city treasurer and CFO Jerry Hudlow was awarded a sum of just more than $300,000 by a federal jury in Fayetteville on Friday in his wrongful termination case against the city, according to a report at nwaonline.com.

A whistleblower claim was denied, the report said.

U.S. District Judge Jimm Hendren ruled before the trial started Monday the city violated Hudlow’s right to due process, according to the report. The jury also found Hudlow suffered emotional distress and damage to his reputation.

Hudlow, who was fired in May 2012, sued the city and mayor Greg Hines three months later for wrongful termination.

Hudlow was fired by Hines for a variety of reasons, outlined by the mayor in a personnel action report. Among the complaints were insubordination, intimidation, disrespect, lack of decorum, failure in ethics and violation of state.

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.

When reached by telephone Friday afternoon, Hudlow said he felt somewhat vindicated by the jury’s decision.

“I think it shows the termination was wrong, and I was able to clear my name,” said Hudlow, who has been serving as the city of Lowell’s finance director for a year.

Hudlow said he anticipated the second phase of the lawsuit, an equitable hearing before Judge Hendren, to pick back up after the holidays.