Allegations Against Inspector Withdrawn Hentges Case May Lead To Financial Settlement By State L&I; Over Firing
The state has withdrawn allegations that an inspector tipped off a Spokane hospital before a surprise inspection.
The case cost inspector Terry Hentges his job and could lead to a financial settlement by the state Department of Labor and Industries. It also led to a three-day suspension for a Spokane County official who later was accused of cronyism for hiring Hentges soon after he lost the state job.
L&I fired Hentges in early 1996, citing seven instances of gross misconduct and negligence. Four of the allegations stemmed from complaints in 1993 that he misused a state car and retaliated against the co-worker who reported him.
The three allegations that caused his dismissal - and were withdrawn this month - involved a safety inspection to determine whether Deaconess Medical Center engineers were exposed to asbestos. The hospital posted asbestos warning signs in mechanical areas three days before Hentges’ surprise inspection.
L&I officials alleged Hentges gave Deaconess safety manager Linda Cox advance notice of the inspection. That is a criminal offense, although charges were never filed.
Hentges, who would not comment Tuesday, has denied the allegations in the past.
Hentges reported finding no exposed asbestos and levied no fines during the inspection. Another inspector later cited the hospital for knowingly exposing one employee to the cancer-causing fiber.
Hentges appealed his firing and was scheduled to make his case Tuesday before the state Personnel Appeals Board. That hearing, at a Spokane motel, was canceled because attorneys representing both sides are close to a settlement.
“Board members … got there (Monday) in time for us to tell them the appeal was settled,” said Don Bennett, the board’s executive secretary. “They turned around and drove back” to Olympia on Tuesday.
A source close to the case said L&I has offered to reinstate Hentges, who now works for Boeing Co. Hentges reportedly declined the offer and is seeking a cash settlement instead.
No one involved in the case would confirm that report Tuesday or comment on settlement talks.
“Until all the signatures are on the table, we don’t really have an agreement,” said assistant state Attorney General Mickey Newberry, who represents L&I. “It could all fall apart.”
Newberry said a common component of any such settlement is a statement that neither party acknowledges doing anything improper.
Hentges’ union-assigned attorney, Ed Younglove, said the state dropped the Deaconess allegations without prompting from Hentges. He would not say whether that means his client was wrongly fired.
“Apparently, they decided that they couldn’t prove those charges,” said Younglove, general counsel for the Washington Federation of State Employees.
Days after he was fired by the state, Hentges was hired by county risk manager Claude Cox for a temporary job as a safety officer.
Cox, who is married to Deaconess’ Linda Cox, was suspended for three days for hiring Hentges. A county investigation concluded that Cox and Hentges were friends, and that Hentges was hired over more qualified candidates.
Hentges kept the job. And when it ended, he was given another, beating 12 candidates during a screening process that didn’t involve Claude Cox. That position later was made permanent.
Hentges quit about a year ago to take the Boeing job, said Ben Duncan, county director of human resources.
Claude Cox said Hentges’ success in the county shows there was nothing improper about his initial hiring. “I think now that he’s been vindicated, I should be vindicated,” Cox said. “Unfortunately, I’m not holding my breath.”
, DataTimes