City of Norfolk v. Kohler

This is an employer’s appeal from a judgment awarding an employee damages for wrongful termination of employment.

In a motion for declaratory judgment filed against the City of Norfolk, its city manager, and the director and members of the Board of Directors of the Norfolk Public Library System, Betty Kohler demanded damages and reinstatement to her position as deputy director of the Norfolk Public Library. The trial court heard the evidence ore tenus, and because the plaintiff prevailed below, we will review the evidence in the light most favorable to her.

Kohler, a librarian with a master’s…