The Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown Borough.
The ex-second deputy recorder of deeds for Bucks County has filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was fired because of the candidate she supported.
Carol Schaffling, a Democrat from Upper Southampton, filed the lawsuit against Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Dan McPhillips, a Republican; his office; and Bucks County government last week. News of the lawsuit was first reported by the Doylestown Intelligencer.
Schaffling was hired by previous Recorder of Deeds Robin Robinson, a Democrat, in January 2018. She was promoted to second deputy recorder of deeds after the previous holder of the job retired. She earned $81,600 per year in that post.
On March 2, McPhillips called Schaffling into a meeting and told her the office was “going in a different direction,” meaning she was being terminated, according to the lawsuit.
“Immediately after terminating Plaintiff, Defendant McPhillips hired Suzanne McCracken, a registered Republican, to replace Plaintiff as Second Deputy Recorder of Deeds,” the lawsuit reads.
Schaffling said McPhillips praised her to the former solicitor in the weeks before he fired her, according to the lawsuit.
“Defendant McPhillips terminated Plaintiff because of her political party affiliation and engagement in constitutionally protected activity, namely showing support for Robinson’s reelection as Bucks County Recorder of Deeds,” according to the lawsuit.
“Plaintiff was a public employee when she engaged in constitutionally protected activities, including donating to Robinson’s campaign for reelection and distributing cards to independent voters supporting Robinson, which invoked her First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association,” it further added.
Schaffling said the unexpected termination of her job has caused her financial loss and left her without work. She also claims she has yet to get paid for unused time off and other benefits the county owes her.
A county spokesperson, McPhillips, and Schaffling’s attorney all declined to comment on the case.
The Recorder of Deeds is a row office, whose leader is elected every four years by the citizens of the county. The row officer keeps real estate, veterans’ discharges, notary public commissions, and other important documents. The office’s records date back to 1684.
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