Current:Home > NewsNew Mexico to pay $650K to settle whistleblower’s lawsuit involving the state’s child welfare agency-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
New Mexico to pay $650K to settle whistleblower’s lawsuit involving the state’s child welfare agency
View Date:2024-12-23 18:29:54
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department has reached a $650,000 settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit brought by two former agency officials.
The settlement was announced Tuesday, just weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial in a state district court in Santa Fe.
The suit was brought by former CYFD public information officer Cliff Gilmore and his wife, Debra Gilmore, who headed the agency’s office of children’s rights.
The couple were both fired in 2021 after raising concerns about the CYFD’s practice of conducting official business through an encrypted messaging app and automatically deleting messages in potential violation of New Mexico’s public records law, according to their lawsuit.
“We wanted to hold CYFD accountable and stand up for others who may have been treated the way we were,” the Gilmores said in a joint statement. “We aimed to shine light on what we believed to be wrongdoing that was directly harmful to the very children that CYFD was sworn to protect.”
CYFD admitted no wrongdoing or liability in agreeing to settle and an agency spokesperson declined to comment other than to say the case had been resolved and the settlement was public.
veryGood! (823)
Related
- Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn Coming Out of Retirement at 40
- Green River Killer victim identified as Lori Razpotnik 41 years after she went missing
- Grammy nominee Gracie Abrams makes music that unites strangers — and has Taylor Swift calling
- Pentagon slow to remedy forever chemicals in water around hundreds of military bases
- Barbora Krejcikova calls out 'unprofessional' remarks about her appearance
- After approving blessings for same-sex couples, Pope asks Vatican staff to avoid ‘rigid ideologies’
- Transfer portal king Deion Sanders again reels in top transfer recruiting class
- Actor Jonathan Majors found guilty on 2 charges in domestic assault trial
- 'Yellowstone' premiere: Record ratings, Rip's ride and Billy Klapper's tribute
- Mandy Moore talks 'out of my wheelhouse' 'Dr. Death' and being 'unscathed' by pop start
Ranking
- Parts of Southern California under quarantine over oriental fruit fly infestation
- After 58 deaths on infamous Pacific Coast Highway, changes are coming. Will they help?
- This golden retriever is nursing 3 African painted dog pups at a zoo because their own mother wouldn't care for them
- 4 Indian soldiers killed and 3 wounded in an ambush by rebels in disputed Kashmir
- What that 'Disclaimer' twist says about the misogyny in all of us
- Parents and uncle convicted of honor killing Pakistani teen in Italy for refusing arranged marriage
- Watch this 9-year-old overwhelmed with emotion when she opens a touching gift
- Will the Rodriguez family's college dreams survive the end of affirmative action?
Recommendation
-
Satellite images and documents indicate China working on nuclear propulsion for new aircraft carrier
-
Taliban official says Afghan girls of all ages permitted to study in religious schools
-
Fatal fires serve as cautionary tale of dangers of lithium-ion batteries
-
More than 2.5 million Honda and Acura vehicles are recalled for a fuel pump defect
-
In bizarro world, Tennessee plays better defense, and Georgia's Kirby Smart comes unglued
-
Man accused of texting death threats to Ramaswamy faces similar charges involving 2 more candidates
-
The Chilling True Story Behind Dr. Death: Cutthroat Conman
-
Fatal fires serve as cautionary tale of dangers of lithium-ion batteries