Feds Tell Nevada to Rehire Veteran

LAS VEGAS (CN) - The federal government sued the State of Nevada on behalf of an Army reservist who was not reinstated as chief deputy controller after he returned from active duty.

Arthur Ingram joined the Army Reserves in 1983, and in February 2003 Nevada hired him as chief deputy controller. Ingram was notified less than a month later that he was being mobilized for active duty. He served from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2006 to 2008.

While Ingram was on active duty in 2006, Kim Wallin was elected controller and took office in January 2007.

Ingram says in his federal lawsuit that he told Wallin he would be on active duty until 2008, and she gave no indication that he would not be re-employed.

When he returned, Ingram says, he was offered a job as chief accountant in the controller's office, on condition of a one-year probationary period and passing proficiency exams.

Ingram filed a complaint with the Veterans' Employment Training Service for violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

He says he reported for work, and told Wallin "that he was there to begin working at whatever job he was offered but that he would continue to pursue" his claim because he believed he was entitled to the chief deputy position.

State officials then rescinded the offer, and told Ingram he would not be re-employed in any state position "until and if" he prevailed in his complaint.

The state notified Ingram in a December 2008 letter that his employment had been terminated effective Jan. 1, 2007, the same day Wallin became controller, according to the complaint.

The federal government wants Nevada to give Ingram his job back, and lost wages.

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