A former deputy county administrator has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and retaliation by her employer, a Michigan municipal corporation. On November 14, 2025, Aundrea L. Armstrong lodged a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Monroe County and several of its officials, accusing them of violating her constitutional rights and state laws.
Armstrong claims that her dismissal was orchestrated after she exercised her First Amendment rights by providing a character reference for a colleague involved in legal proceedings. She argues that this act led to a conspiracy among county officials to eliminate her position as Deputy County Administrator, despite being part of an approved succession plan to become the County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer. Armstrong’s complaint highlights that her termination was not only retaliatory but also discriminatory based on gender, as no male employees faced similar repercussions for comparable actions.
The lawsuit outlines multiple allegations against Monroe County and its Board of Commissioners members: David Vensel, David Hoffman, Jay Heinserling, J. Henry Lievens, Randy Richardville, and William Sisk. Armstrong accuses these individuals of concocting a scheme to terminate her employment under the guise of budget restructuring—a move she insists was solely targeted at her due to protected activities and gender discrimination. The complaint further details how Armstrong was pressured to create an unethical job position for one of the committee members investigating her case—an action she refused on ethical grounds.
Armstrong seeks compensatory damages for economic losses such as lost wages and benefits, non-economic damages including emotional distress and reputational harm, punitive damages against individual defendants for their reckless disregard of her rights, reinstatement to her previous position or equivalent roles within the county government, injunctive relief prohibiting further unlawful acts by the defendants, and attorney fees.
Represented by attorneys Joseph X. Michaels and Adam M. Taub from Croson, Taub & Michaels PLLC in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Armstrong is determined to hold Monroe County accountable for what she describes as unconstitutional actions that have severely impacted her career trajectory and personal life. The case is identified under Case No. 4:25-cv-13634-SDK-APP with no specific judge assigned yet.
Source: 425cv13634_Aundrea_Armstrong_v_Monroe_County_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan..pdf
