A courtroom scene highlighting legal actions in Horry County.
Horry County is embroiled in legal troubles as former employee Lauren DeMasi files a lawsuit alleging wrongful discharge and defamation. The claims stem from her discovery of questionable taxpayer-funded purchases. Following her whistleblowing efforts, she faced retaliation and wrongful termination, prompting her legal battle against high-ranking officials. The case raises serious concerns about government fund management and the treatment of whistleblowers in local government. DeMasi’s allegations include civil conspiracy, and her lawsuit adds complexity to an ongoing saga in Horry County.
In a twist of events that seems straight out of a courtroom drama, the city of Horry County is facing serious allegations from a former employee. Lauren DeMasi, who previously worked as a procurement specialist, officially filed a federal lawsuit on March 31, 2025, adding a new layer of intrigue to the local government’s dealings.
At the heart of DeMasi’s lawsuit are claims of wrongful discharge and defamation against both Horry County and a handful of county employees. Among the defendants are high-profile figures, including County Administrator Barry Spivey and Myrtle Beach International Airport Director Judi Olmstead. Other implicated individuals are Katie Badgett, Tammy Stevens, and even her former and current colleagues, April Kelly and Tara Chestnut-Smith.
It all began in May and June of 2024 when DeMasi was diving into spreadsheets that raised her eyebrows. She stumbled upon what can only be described as *suspicious purchases*—items like golf equipment and TVs that were shipped to employees’ homes, all funded by taxpayers’ hard-earned money. The lawsuit brings to light that, while the exact amounts spent remain a mystery, the ramifications of these discoveries are anything but unclear.
After uncovering these dubious purchases, DeMasi promptly reached out to Kimberly Massie, the Director of Procurement, and her deputy, Jessica Williams, during a meeting on June 4, 2024. They collectively voiced their concerns but were met with hesitations about reporting these activities. A fear loomed that an internal report wouldn’t lead to action, but would instead trigger a cover-up. They contemplated turning the case over to the U.S. Department of Justice to get to the bottom of the allegations.
Things took a serious turn between June 10 and June 13, 2024, when Massie and Williams, after escalating their concerns to upper management, found themselves terminated. The reasons cited for their dismissal included “inefficiency” and a “non-harmonious work environment.” In the wake of their firing, DeMasi filed complaints against two co-workers, Chestnut-Smith and Stevens, alleging retaliatory actions against her and her team.
In a fateful twist, after filing the complaints, DeMasi had a meeting with Human Resources. During this meeting, she faced pressure to either resign or face termination for being the “source of discord.” To make matters worse, Badgett allegedly misled her, suggesting that if she resigned, she would still qualify for unemployment benefits. After resigning, DeMasi learned that those benefits were not applicable to her situation, since her resignation was not due to termination for cause.
Attempting to file a grievance post-resignation, DeMasi found herself at a dead end when HR informed her that her resignation forfeited any grievance rights. To add insult to injury, she alleges that rumors began circulating after her departure, suggesting that she and her former boss may have been involved in something akin to a cult.
DeMasi’s lawsuit amounts to a serious legal battle, with claims extending to civil conspiracy and violations of both the First and Fourteenth Amendments. She is aiming for a jury trial along with unspecified *actual damages*. Interestingly, it doesn’t stop there; Jessica Williams filed her own similar lawsuit just a day later on April 1, 2025, against the same group of defendants. This unfolding saga in Horry County highlights serious concerns about how government funds are managed and whistleblowers are treated.
As this legal drama plays out, it’s hard not to wonder just how deep the rabbit hole goes in Horry County. With so much uncertainty ahead, residents and officials alike are keenly watching how this story develops.
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