Early v. County of Durham, Department of Social Services

MARTIN, Chief Judge.

Respondent-appellant County of Durham Department of Social Services (“DSS”) appeals from the 13 July 2007 and 27 August 2007 orders granting $17,982.50 in attorney fees to petitioner-appellee Marsha Early (“Early”) as the prevailing party in the employment action underlying this case.

The history of this case is set out in Early v. County of Durham Dep’t of Soc. Servs. (Early I), 172 N.C. App. 344, 616 S.E.2d 553 (2005). In pertinent part, that case addressed the termination of Early by DSS from her permanent position as a Child Support Agent on 14 December 2000. Early…