Tampa, Florida - She gave herself a one percent raise without telling her bosses and it cost former Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Bean her job. Commissioners fired Bean after the 10 News Investigators uncovered the raise, but now she is trying to get more than $300,000 is severance pay.
Bean was in court Thursday saying she should be paid a year's salary and benefits, and an additional $51,000 in legal fees because she was never convicted of a crime.
However, attorneys for the county say Bean could be dismissed without getting any severance under three conditions: conviction of a felony, being convicted of moral turpitude, or committing an illegal act on the job that benefits her. The county contends Bean illegally gave herself the raise because she knew only commissioners could increase her salary and that was an illegal act. Bean's attorney argues that an illegal act has to be criminal.
Bean's attorneys also say she should have her legal fees paid for because the county had done that for other employees who had to hire a lawyer, even though they weren't charged with a crime, but the county says in the other instances the employees were acting for a public purpose, while Bean was just enriching herself.
No decision will be made for several weeks. Both sides have three weeks to submit their closing arguments in writing.
Judge James Barton, who will make the decision, asked several questions during the hearing and seemed to be wrestling with whether illegal means criminal.