DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)— The City of Dothan is asking a Houston County Judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled former city employee.

Stephanie Wingfield was fired from her position as Director for the Dothan Leisure Services Feeding Program in May 2022 after being accused of influencing the result of a restaurant bid for the cities summer feeding program, causing Mama T’s to be underbid and lose to Breakfast at Tammy’s.

Wingfield fought her termination, asking a judge to reinstate her to her former position. A judge denied her plea both times and Wingfield filed a lawsuit against the city.

In the 427-page court document, the City of Dothan claims Wingfield gave no legal evidence in the lawsuit that the City violated her rights or its policies by firing her.

The City of Dothan says Wingfield was fired due to costing the city money, negligence in doing her job, deliberate falsification of documents, and misrepresentation to her employers. Many employees under her were also reprimanded.

Winfield claims it wasn’t negligence or misrepresentation that got her fired, but racism and hostility.

She says during her time as director of the feeding program, she was unfairly targeted by racist Dothan City management and it got worse after she exposed the city finance department’s misuse of federal funds to pay staff during covid.

It is unknown if Judge Henry “Butch” Binford has made a ruling or set a date for a hearing on the matter.