PORTLAND, Ore. — A former executive of one of the largest homeless service providers in Multnomah County has filed a $4.5 million lawsuit for unfair dismissal for attempting to disclose alleged gross mismanagement by top executives of the nonprofit organization.
Kate Fulton, the former financial director of Sunstone Way in Portland, alleges whistleblower retaliation in the lawsuit filed in the Multnomah County Circuit Court on Thursday. In the lawsuit, Fulton alleges gross mismanagement by top executives and a waste of public dollars.
She Became Suspicious Shortly After Starting Her Job
According to the lawsuit, Fulton began to suspect financial mismanagement soon after starting her job. She was appointed as the financial director shortly after a hotline tip uncovered overbilling by the nonprofit of Multnomah County in the amount of $525,228. This amount included $193,675 uncovered as inappropriate administrative overheads.
In the lawsuit, Fulton also claims that Goebel promoted Hovanas to chief systems officer while they were involved in a personal relationship…