A former employee in Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office alleges she lost her job after voicing her concerns about the role of the mayor’s wife in his administration.
The lawsuit, which is being handled by local attorney Thomas Clay, alleges she was wrongfully terminated in a violation of the Kentucky Whistleblower Act.
In the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Jefferson Circuit Court against Louisville Metro Government, Samantha Ricketts denies providing information for a Courier Journal article that detailed Rachel Greenberg’s authority in the office.
The lawsuit alleges Ricketts received direct orders from Rachel Greenberg while working as a graphic design specialist for the government. For instance, she said she was directed by the first lady to design a water bottle for the mayor to use when he goes for a run.
“All of this caught me by surprise as I have never had a meeting with or interacted in this way with a First Lady, and I was not aware she would be taking a role in the administration, let alone having meetings with me, giving me directions, and making decisions on my work. I do not understand her role, as no one has mentioned it, and am unsure how to approach this situation,” Ricketts wrote in a timeline provided in the lawsuit. That timeline entry is dated Jan. 4, 2023.