Air Force Reservist Files Wrongful Termination Suit

By Nathan Abbott

Published on January 29, 2007

For over ten years, Debra Muhl has worn two hats. She has been employed as the administrative director of Sutter Health’s joint cardiac program, while simultaneously holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the Air Force Reserves, serving as an air-evac nurse. Muhl claims that she was terminated from her position at Sutter within days of alerting her supervisor she would be sent to Iraq for four months. Muhl is claiming wrongful termination under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act of 1994.

Muhl claims that her supervisor was visibly upset when she informed him of her commitments, and within two days informed her that he was eliminating her position, and that she would not have a job when she returned. Representatives for Sutter Health claim that they had been seeking ways to cut costs months before Muhl’s redeployment, and her job had already been eliminated before her announcement.

Muhl counters, however, that as a high-ranking executive with the company, she sat in on budget talks and meetings, and her position never came up. She is seeking for back pay, benefits, and damages.

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