CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Former Nueces County District Attorney's Office Felony Chief Kristi Britt filed a lawsuit against recently appointed district attorney James "Jimmy" Granberry and the D.A.'s office Sunday, claiming retaliation and discrimination.
Britt said Granberry demoted her because she is running against him in the 2024 race for the D.A.'s office, creating a "hostile work environment," in the petition.
"If she doesn’t stand up for herself, how does she expect anyone else to,” said Corpus Christi attorney Chris Gale, who is representing Britt. “And truly: Why would they vote for her as DA if she wasn’t willing to stick her neck out and call something wrong when its wrong?"
Gale also was first choice for Gonzalez when a local conservative group and county attorney Jenny Dorsey filed suit to have him removed from office.
Granberry was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in October to finish out the term left vacant by Mark A. Gonzalez after the latter resigned to run for Sen. Ted Cruz's U.S. Senate seat next year.
The filing claims Britt was told by Granberry that she "could not work in the District Attorney's office because she is running against him for District Attorney," that she would be demoted or face being fired unless she reportedly agreed to “give up the campaign and get on the Jimmy train.”
The demotion, the suit alleges, would mean she would no longer handle felony cases, would have to take a pay cut of more than $20,000, and would require relocation.
Britt started as a misdemeanor prosecutor in the Nueces County D.A.'s Office in about December 2019, the suit states, and was promoted a year later to felony prosecutor. She eventually became lead prosecutor in the Child Protection Unit, and was promoted again earlier this year to Chief of Intake, where she supervised both felony and misdemeanor cases, including those in the Child Protection, Violent Crime and Gang units.
It also states that she has never had a conviction overturned.
County judge Connie Scott told 3NEWS on Monday stands by Granberry -- whose top assistants also are all men, the suit points out.
"As I did when I became county judge, you usually bring certain people and change certain people in your staff," she said.
Britt is asking for various types of damages against Granberry personally, as well as the office; an award for past and future mental anguish; and court costs, including the costs of litigation.
"As I said, she certainly has the right to file a lawsuit," Scott said. "I have looked at it with the county attorney, and I do believe we will prevail. And given the financial situation the county has been in, it's unfortunate."
Multi-skilled journalists Michael Gibson and Lexis Greene contributed to this story. 3NEWS will have more on this story at 6 p.m. and will provide updates online as they become available.
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