A former health director has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he resigned from his job in 2021 because the Williamson County judge racially discriminated against him and that the health board did not investigate his complaints.
County Judge Bill Gravell has denied the allegations.
Derrick Neal, who is Black, filed the suit against the Williamson County and Cities Health District. When Neal was director of the health district, he worked closely with Gravell during the COVID-19 pandemic because Gravell was the designated incident commander, according to the lawsuit.
Neal also reported to the chair of the health board, who is appointed by the Commissioners Court and the county judge, the lawsuit said.
Gravell referred to Neal as "garbage" and criticized his handling of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic but did not criticize Neal's white co-workers, the lawsuit said. It also said a former health district board member told him Gravell had made comments about him that "were so inappropriate that they did not bear repeating, given their offensive and distasteful racial nature."
Gravell denied any wrongdoing in a statement.
"I am aware of the inaccurate and false allegations asserted about me in a lawsuit filed by Mr. Derrick Neal against his former employer, the Williamson County & Cities Health District," Gravell said. "These shameful statements unjustly attack my character and my dedication to service for all residents of our community.
"It is my hope that these...
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