TRAVERSE CITY — A former city planner filed an employment discrimination suit against his past employer — the City of Traverse City.

The civil complaint, filed Sept. 28 by Shawn Winter and attorney Blake Ringsmuth in 13th Circuit Court, seeks in excess of $25,000 for allegations that the city manager, unnamed commissioners and others violated the Whistleblower's Protection Act.

In the complaint, Winter alleges that his July 29 termination was retaliation for flagging potential fraud on a housing grant application; that it caused hostility on the part of City Manager Benjamin Marentette and a disciplinary measure against Winter; that former City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht drafted a memo supporting Winter's allegations before she stepped down in June 2026; that personnel received "illegal directives" about encouraging the strategic plan over the master plan; that certain city commissioners pressured Marentette to fire Winter illegally, and more.

"Plaintiff (Winter) became aware of Commissioners' illegal campaign against him ... leading to further adverse action and his (Winter's) ultimate firing," it reads.

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