Parkersburg lawyer Walt Auvil has submitted a four-page letter giving a 30-day notice of his intent to file suit against Department of Health and Human Resources acting secretary Rocco Fucillo on behalf of suspended DHHR attorneys Susan Perry and Jennifer Taylor. Perry and Taylor, along with DHHR communications director John Law, were placed on paid reassignment leave on July 17th by Fucillo without explanation. Sources have said Fucillo placed the three on leave after they raised concerns about plans to award an advertising and marketing contract worth about $4 million a year to the highest of four bidders. The suit contends that Fucillo's actions constitute defamation, invasion of privacy, gender discrimination, and violate the state Ethics Act and whistleblower laws while casting Perry and Taylor in a false light in the eyes not only of co-workers and fellow employees, but also third parties and the public at large.
