Librarian says she was fired for reporting sex incident

ESTANCIA, N.M., Nov. 4 (UPI) —

A lawyer for a former assistant librarian in New Mexico said his client lost her job for reporting two city workers found having sex in the children’s section.

Joseph CampBell, attorney for former Estancia Library employee Jamie Kurz, said his client showed up for work in August and discovered two city employees — the town’s head librarian and a maintenance worker — "engaged in sexual intercourse on the floor in the children’s section," KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, reported Monday.

The workers told Kurz to be quiet, but she reported the incident to the city library director and Estancia Mayor Sylvia Chavez, CampBell said.

"The mayor subsequently talked to Jamie about it, told her that it wouldn’t have any effect on her job," CampBell said.

However, Kurz went on leave when the head librarian returned to work, claiming a hostile work environment, and was soon fired.

An Oct. 10 letter from Chavez to Kurz said she was being fired for failing to return her key to the library while on leave.

"Your refusal to turn over town property upon request and as required to ensure uninterrupted library services shows a lack of cooperation and willingness to work with supervisors," Chavez wrote. "This behavior constitutes insubordination and jeopardizes the Town’s ability to serve its citizens."

However, CampBell said Kurz believes her firing was tied to her refusal to keep quiet about the August incident.

CampBell said he plans to file a claim with the town and a possible whistle-blower lawsuit could follow.