Indian Hills district subject of federal lawsuit

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the Indian Hills General Improvement District, Bill Eisele, Sandy Eisele and Art Baer by the district's former bookkeeper.

Reno attorney Jeffrey Dickerson filed the suit on behalf of Nancy Fredrickson, who worked for the district for about four years until Sept. 18, 2008, when Baer was acting general manager.

Both Bill Eisele and Baer are seeking seats on the district board in November. Sandy Eisele works for the district.

The lawsuit claims that the district violated the Americans With Disabilities Act because officials knew Fredrickson suffered from chronic depression and anxiety, and that the three defendants created a hostile work environment.

In her lawsuiit, Fredrickson says Baer's acrimony toward her started in 2004 and 2005 when she reported issues with General Manager Jim Bentley.

She accuses Baer of conducting a campaign against her that culminated when she was on medical leave to terminate her.

The medical leave started on July 17, 2008, when Fredrickson suffered what is described as a breakdown at work following a meeting with Sandy Eisele. Paramedics responded to the incident, which was described at the time over the police scanner as an overdose.

Fredrickson claims that the defendants made false defamatory statements about her to third persons including members of the press.

The Record-Courier, the Nevada Appeal and the Reno Gazette Journal are listed in the lawsuit among those to whom statements were made. Eisele is the only defendent quoted in a story appearing in The Record-Courier on July 18, 2008. His statement was made during the course of the official meeting.