Former top executives of Central Alabama Water are taking legal action against the regional water utility, seeking substantial damages. The lawsuit, filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court, accuses the utility of breach of contract, wrongful termination, conspiracy, and fraudulent representation. The plaintiffs, General Manager Mac Underwood, Assistant General Managers Barry Williams and Michael Parker, were placed on administrative leave with pay shortly after the board hired Jeffrey Thompson as CEO. They claim that their employment contracts were violated, and they were effectively fired without the compensation they were entitled to. The case highlights a wave of litigation hitting Central Alabama Water's leaders, including an unrelated federal case suing state lawmakers for legislative changes that affected the Birmingham Water Works Board. Attorney John Q. Somerville, representing the executives, criticized the utility's treatment of its employees, stating that the board worked to hire Thompson and unfairly remove senior staff members who were hired to bring reforms. The controversy surrounding the CEO selection process, where only three of the seven board members served on the search committee, adds to the tension. The executives' contracts, approved by the previous board, were designed to provide severance pay if they were terminated. Underwood's payout alone could total over $2.2 million, excluding benefits. The case raises questions about the treatment of long-serving employees and the transparency of the CEO selection process, inviting discussion and debate among readers.
