Whistleblower Suit Act of ‘Cantankerous’ Employee Upset Over Firing, VIHFA Alleges

A former V.I. Housing Finance Authority official who filed a whistleblower suit against the agency and two of its top executives in December is a disgruntled employee who was fired because she was not a good fit for the organization, the VIHFA said in a motion to dismiss the complaint filed Monday in V.I. Superior Court.

Former Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Berry alleged in her lawsuit that the authority stands to “lose millions of dollars through recapturing of federal funds due to noncompliance with policies and procedures,” and projects funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are at a standstill because of inaction by VIHFA leadership.

After expressing concerns internally, Berry claimed that VIHFA Executive Director Eugene Jones Jr. cautioned that “if she kept putting things in writing, it would be to [her] detriment.” The suit also names Chief Disaster Recovery Officer Dayna Clendinen, who served as the authority’s interim executive director for much of Berry’s tenure.

On Monday, the VIHFA responded forcefully to Berry’s allegations through a combined motion to dismiss and memorandum of law, saying her lawsuit is nothing more than retribution for being fired and lacks the specificity to move forward.