HELENA — The former editor of the Missoulian has sued the publisher of the newspaper and its owner, Lee Enterprises Inc., claiming wrongful discharge.
Sherry Devlin’s lawsuit says she was demoted in April; her pay was cut nearly in half; she was replaced by a younger and less experienced man; and her work conditions were made so intolerable that she was forced to resign in November after 30 years at the paper.
She is seeking unspecified actual damages, unpaid overtime, punitive damages and attorney’s costs.
Current editor Matt Bunk declined comment in an email due to the legal nature of the matter. Publisher Mark Heintzelman did not immediately return a voicemail seeking comment.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, said Devlin was performing her job satisfactorily when Heintzelman was named publisher in 2014. Within days, she said, he suggested they start working on her exit strategy.
Heintzelman didn’t tell Devlin why she was at risk of being terminated, according to her complaint, which was first reported by the Missoula Independent.
On April 16, Lee Enterprises began advertising for a new editor, the complaint said. The next day, Devlin was demoted to a different position and her pay was cut, although her job duties were substantially the same, the complaint said.
Bunk, 37, was hired as editor in mid-August. Devlin resigned on Nov. 30.