Terminated Town Clerk Files Suit Against Town of Cedar Bluff

On Thursday, the Town of Cedar Bluff was served with a lawsuit that had been filed in The Federal Court for the Northern District of Alabama Eastern Division on June 2nd, 2025 by Jennifer Runnels.

Runnels was terminated from her position as Town Clerk and Magistrate on September 20, 2024 by actions of the Town Council in a Special Called Meeting.

The suit claims she was not given due process as guaranteed under the Constitution. It also claims she was denied her rights as set out in the 14th amendment, the right to the pursuit of happiness. It also alleges she was denied her rights under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.

The suit is asking for compensatory damages of at least $750,000 or an amount set by a jury for emotional distress and mental anguish, economic loss and all other proved injuries, back pay in an amount owning to Runnels at the entry of a judgment, a front pay in the amount of $1,193,400, an unnamed amount for lost retirement benefits, plus attorney’s fees and cost of bringing action.

WEIS Radio News reached out to Mayor Crane for comment about the suit. She acknowledged the Town was served on Thursday, June 5th and she notified the Attorney General’s Office of the suit. She said this is all she can say at the time because the matter remains under investigation.

The suit can be read in its entirety below: