Carla Edwards

Just days after the terms of the city of Columbia’s settlement with Carla Edwards were made public, her attorney filed a similar federal lawsuit against the Columbia School District.

Edwards, the ex-wife of former Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards, received a $150,000 settlement from the city after she alleged violations of the state’s eavesdropping statute, the federal Stored Communications Act and illegal search and seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The 10-count lawsuit against the school district was filed Thursday on behalf of Carla Edwards in the U.S. District Court for Southern Illinois in East St. Louis. It alleges unnamed school district employees violated her Fourth Amendment rights, the federal Stored Communications Act, the state’s eavesdropping statute, and “intruded upon seclusion” and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.

Carla Edwards, who is still employed as a teachers aide at Eagleview Elementary School in Columbia, alleges in the 16-page filing that at some point in October 2015, Joe Edwards compiled information based on private communications that he obtained by unlawfully accessing her cell phone, and while in uniform provided it on a thumb drive to various school district employees in positions of authority. Carla and Joe Edwards officially divorced in October 2014; they continue to battle for custody of their twin teenage daughters, now juniors in high school.

The filing alleges certain school district employees had “close relationships” with Joe Edwards.

Unnamed school district employees stated they took possession of and accessed Carla Edwards’ cell phone, and used this improperly obtained information to contact local and state public agencies, including the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, “in order to embarrass and institute investigations into the plaintiff’s private matters and family in an attempt to adversely affect her employment status,” according to the filing.

The school district employees also used this information to “threaten and harass” Carla Edwards and threaten her employment, the filing claims.

Carla Edwards was subjected to questioning and disciplinary meetings with various school district employees in different levels of authority, the filing states, and was “threatened that her employment status was in jeopardy.” She was required to execute a document in which she admitted to various acts, which she denied, according to the suit.

Still, the school employees continued to threaten Carla Edwards with discipline and reprimands, the filing alleges.

The “accessing of private phone information and subsequent actions was done with personal and ulterior motives and upon information and belief in conjunction with and conspiracy with Chief Edwards to adversely affect her employment status, her reputation and her relationships with her family,” the filing claims.

Columbia School District Superintendent Dr. Gina Segobiano declined to comment on the lawsuit when reached on Friday.

“School officials are restricted from discussing or commenting on issues relating to individual students and/or employees,” she said.

Carla Edwards is represented by Russell F. Watters of the law firm Brown & James, P.C. in St. Louis.

Joe Edwards was a 24-year CPD veteran. He was placed on administrative leave in February following the opening of an investigation into his actions by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department that prompted by a domestic complaint.

Joe Edwards tendered his resignation May 16 to the Columbia City Council at their regular meeting, effective April 30.

The case was ultimately turned over to a special prosecutor in Springfield, who has to date declined to file any criminal charges. The Special Prosecution Unit has three years to file felony charges and 18 months to file misdemeanor charges against Joe Edwards.

Jerry Paul, who had served as deputy chief under Edwards and is a 22-year CPD member, was appointed chief of police.

For our story posted Tuesday on Carla Edwards’ settlement with the city, click here.

To view the lawsuit, click here.