The City of Broken Bow and Randy Schweitzer have reached a settlement in the lawsuit filed by Schweitzer and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
According to the resolution, the two parties agreed to a settlement of $35,000 plus Schweitzer’s vacation time and pension. Along with that agreement, Schweitzer shall be retired from the City effective October 31, 2019.
The resolution was approved by the Broken Bow City Council in a special meeting held at noon on October 31, 2019 at the Municipal Building.
In the spring of 2017, court documents indicate that Schweitzer, who was working in the Line Department, developed an allergy to epoxy resin where he develops hives if exposed. In response, the City of Broken Bow transferred Schweitzer to Park Maintenance until he received a release from his doctor.
Schweitzer’s doctor eventually filed the release, but according to the complaint filed by the IBEW, the city continued to discriminate against Schweitzer and would not allow him to work as a lineman due to his condition.
“The guys that were involved in this lawsuit… It’s pretty shameful if you ask me. A guy that puts that many years in and this is the way we’re going to treat him,” said Broken Bow Mayor Jonathon Berghorst.
Council President Rod Sonnichsen also commented on the lawsuit stating, “Both parties were ordered to be [at the settlement conference] on Monday, October 28. This employee was represented by his council. This employee also agreed to this settlement alongside his representative the entire time. This was not the sole act of the city and its representatives that attended this conference. This was, by far, a mutual agreement between the two parties and there were several options discussed within the nearly four hours of this conference.”
