LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The former Lake County Animal Services director has filed a lawsuit against the county, claiming she was wrongly terminated after nine days on the job.
Investigators said more than 100 dogs were euthanized under her watch.
Jacquelyn Johnston’s attorney told Channel 9 that Johnson wants the county to pay for tarnishing her reputation.
Johnston was Lake County’s Animal Services director for nine days before she was let go.
Nearly 150 animals were euthanized under her watch, including 20 in one day.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office, which runs Animal Services, fired her, and Johnson is claiming slander, libel and violation of her 14th Amendment rights.
“Ms. Johnston has been seriously wronged,” said attorney Angelena Root.
Root said Johnston’s name was run through the mud over something she has no control over.
“She was not in the county when that happened,” Root said.
The suit claims Johnston was driving to Miami when some of the animals were put down.
It blames kennel supervisor Jennifer Ferguson for overstepping her duties and euthanizing more animals than necessary.
The suit claims Ferguson was passed over for the director position to take appropriate direction from Johnston.
In the days after Johnston’s termination, the sheriff’s office released information about the incident.
A spokesman did an interview with Channel 9 shortly after Johnston’s firing.
“She made a bad call and euthanized some dogs that could have made good pets for people,” said John Herrell.
Root said those comments made by Herrell ruined her client’s reputation by indicating she personally euthanized the animals.
“They really painted Ms. Johnston as a villain. And there was nothing she could have done that day to control the outcome of that situation, because she was not there,” Root said.
Johnston now runs an animal rescue in south Florida.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said they could not comment on pending litigation.
Previous Story: Ex-Lake Co. Animal Services supervisor fires back after being let go
WFTV
