MS Coast city employee fired for reporting alderman’s ‘misbehavior,’ lawsuit says
A former code enforcement employee in Pass Christian sued the city and two top leaders on Friday, alleging she was fired earlier this year because she reported one of them for misconduct.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Gulfport, claims Virginia “Jenny” Lowery was fired this spring after an altercation with then-Ward 4 Alderman Victor Pickich at a bar in the city.
The complaint comes days after the Pass Christian Board of Aldermen voted to ask the State Auditor’s Office to investigate possible financial mismanagement in the city’s code, water and harbor departments. City leaders have called the problems alarming but have not described details of their financial concerns because they say the issue’s full scope is still unclear.
The complaint names as defendants the city, Mayor Kenny Torgeson and Pickich, now the alderman-at-large. It claims Pickich “launched a tirade” and hurled curse words at Lowery when she crossed paths one night in February with him and Torgeson, then the alderman-at-large, and now mayor.
“Pickich appeared intoxicated,” the lawsuit says.
City Attorney Jim Simpson said Friday afternoon that Pass Christian has not had time to respond to the lawsuit. “The city hasn’t been served, so we really don’t know what it says and don’t have any response or comment,” he said.
The complaint also says Torgeson was with Pickich and encouraged Lowery to overlook the incident at The Whiskey Bar on Davis Avenue. Torgeson on Friday said the incident was an “argument” and that Pickich “was not intoxicated.”
“I have absolutely nothing to do with it,” Torgeson said. “This is all brand new news to me,” he added. “It makes no sense to me whatsoever.” He declined to comment further until he could speak to the city attorney.
Pickich did not immediately respond to several messages. He said earlier this month that a state auditor’s investigation into the three departments could give the city an “honest, outside opinion” about its finances.
“Mismanagement, I think, is what it boils down to,” he said. “And we’re getting to the bottom of it.”
Lawsuit alleges retaliation
The 12-page complaint says the city “retaliated” after Lowery reported the Whiskey Bar incident to her boss and filed an affidavit detailing her allegations with the Pass Christian Police Department.
Lowery planned to retire April 30. In March, the lawsuit says, then-city attorney Malcolm Jones asked Lowery to sign a document relieving the city of liability from her allegations. The complaint claims Jones told Lowery she would not receive retirement benefits if she did not sign the document. Lowery refused to sign it.
Jones declined to comment Friday.
In April, the board voted 4-1 to fire Lowery. The Board also voted to fire Lowery’s boss, Mark Savasta. Savasta declined to comment.
The lawsuit accuses Pickich and Torgeson of prompting Lowery’s firing “in order to cover up Pickich’s drunken misbehavior.” It claims the city leaders also defamed her by telling local media outlets that she was fired because of poor work performance.
Lowery is seeking unspecified damages as compensation and also punitive damages. She also claims she has suffered mental anxiety, distress and damage to her reputation.
The complaint is filed in federal court because Lowery alleges the city violated her First Amendment rights to free speech when they fired her over her written complaint and for refusing to sign a release. Lowery also claims in the lawsuit, filed by attorney Jim Waide of Tupelo, that Torgeson and Pickich violated state law by maliciously interfering with her employment.
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM.