The firing's merits were never even argued – here's the step that sank it

A fired Birmingham worker lost her shot at challenging the termination – not on the facts, but on a single court filing step she skipped.

Tameka Fitzpatrick was hired as an administrative analyst in the City of Birmingham's planning, engineering, and permits department in May 2021. On Nov. 29, 2022, the city terminated her.

The city leveled six charges. According to those charges, Fitzpatrick did not dispute sending emails to her supervisor and director that the city described as disrespectful, rude, and aggressive. The charges further stated that she did not provide documentation showing she completed assignments, did not dispute being untruthful on her submitted telework report, and failed to give adequate notice for four absences logged as unexcused. Another charge said she did not dispute violating the city's telework policy. One charge noted that, during her hearing, she stated she had communicated with Mayor Woodfin on her personal devices and on her personal time.

Fitzpatrick took her case to the Jefferson County Personnel Board. After a three-day hearing, a hearing officer recommended upholding the termination in November 2023, and the board adopted that recommendation that December.

She appealed again, this time to the circuit court. With her notice of appeal she filed an affidavit of substantial hardship, indicating she could not afford the fees and costs, and a judge waived prepayment of...

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