Shanerika Fleming was fired on a 4-3 vote by the Shreveport City Council on Sept. 12 of this year. After shopping her claims of discrimination, etc. with local attorneys, Fleming finally found a law firm to represent her in Baton Rouge.

The letter dated Oct. 23 was first revealed by KEEL newscaster Erin McCarty, who shared it with this columnist.

Knowing Ms. Fleming, it’s not surprising that her attorney has made several misstatements of both law and fact in this letter addressed to Mayor Arceneaux, Council president James Green, and city attorney Marcus Edwards.

Here are few highlights, or better put lowlights, of the letter from the Jill L. Craft law firm:

1. Fleming did not report her claims of sex and race-based discrimination /harassment to the council president Green (who had selected her for the council clerk position), the other council members or any other appropriate authorities until the council meeting immediately preceding the termination vote.

2. Fleming never advised councilman Gary Brooks that the alleged comments, advances, invitations, etc. were not appreciated nor did she ask him to refrain from the same. The demand letter is completely devoid of any recitation of affirmative actions by Fleming to stop the course of actions she now asserts.

3. The Council did NOT violate the city charter in her termination by a 4-3 vote as the letter alleges.

4. Ms. Fleming was an unclassified employee. Thus, the Council was not required to disclose to her the many complaints from other members of the council clerk's office or from any other persons to her before their termination action.

The demand letter is required as part of the process for filing a sex/race discrimination lawsuit. The fact that charges of discrimination have been filed with the Employment Opportunity Commission and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights is no big consequence because a simple letter satisfies these two requirements for subsequent litigation.

If Brooks needs representation in responding to these complaints and possible litigation the city will pay the fees of his private attorney just as it has done when other council members have been named in litigation. It’s just part of the business of government to represent its elected officials and employees.

Fleming, who is a Bossier resident, is now leaving two legacies to the City of Shreveport. The first was the illegal switch of the city's insurance carrier the days before Adrian Perkins was sworn in as mayor.

The second is a dismal record as clerk of the council resulting in the assertion of claims totally devoid of merit that may result in defamation suits filed against her by Brooks and possibly another council member.

The City should not enter into any discussions concerning settlement of this case. Fleming should enjoy her few days of media attention while she can because they will probably be her last as it pertains to her former employment as council clerk.