Former Employee Sues Ewu Ex-Vp Assistant Claims Job Was Changed To Keep Her Out

A former Eastern Washington University employee has filed a lawsuit against the school, accusing administrators of eliminating her job, then hiring someone else to do essentially the same work.

Sandra Kruse, 50, worked as administrative assistant to James Hoffman, the university’s academic vice president.

Kruse says EWU officials in June 1996 told her they were eliminating her job due to “reorganization.” She had been an Eastern employee for about 10 years and always received positive job reviews, said her attorney, William Powell.

The school created a new job with a different title and allowed Kruse to apply for it, according to the lawsuit, filed Friday in Spokane County Superior Court.

That job, however, added the requirement of a master’s degree, Powell said. Kruse was told she didn’t qualify because she didn’t have that degree, and another woman filled the job.

“The clear violation is they eliminated her job by designing a new job specifically designed to keep her out,” Powell said.

The lawsuit names Washington state as sole defendant, claiming EWU officials discriminated against Kruse with unfair labor practices.

Kruse now works as administrative assistant to the dean of Washington State University’s Spokane campus.

EWU President Mark Drummond said Tuesday the new assistant’s job is “significantly different than the one before.”

As academic vice president, Hoffman oversees EWU faculty, curriculum and student degree requirements.

Drummond said the new assistant’s job is designed to take on several duties that used to fall upon Hoffman. That is why the job requirement of a master’s degree was added, he said.

“The changes he created (in job duties) seemed legitimate and are ultimately his to decide,” Drummond said.

Hoffman could not be reached for comment.

Kruse, who is seeking unspecified damages, is not seeking to regain her former job, Powell said.

, DataTimes