A Rock Hill firefighter in danger of losing his job for violating the city's nepotism policy gets to keep working for an extra 10 days after a federal court ruling Friday afternoon.
City officials planned to fire Rock Hill firefighter Matt Cooper, 25, by the end of his Sunday shift. That date marks the end of a 30-day grace period after Cooper's marriage to Brooke Lowery, 21. Since Lowery is the daughter of fire Capt. Herbie Lowery, Cooper became his son-in-law - too close to be working in the same department, according to city policy.
Federal Judge Margaret Seymour opted to go with the "status quo" and let Cooper temporarily keep working while another hearing is scheduled. That hearing would decide, based on the merits of the case, whether Cooper should be allowed to keep working as litigation continues.
"I don't know how to comment because I'm so happy," Cooper said. "That's 10 more days I get to be a firefighter."
Cooper originally sued the city in state court Thursday, but a Friday morning hearing abruptly was canceled after city lawyers moved the case to federal court.
During Friday's hearing, Molly Elkin, a lawyer for the International Association of Fire Fighters union, said Cooper would suffer "irreparable harm" to his marriage and well-being by losing his job before courts ruled on his case.
In addition to not having income, he would lose medical certification and training and the brotherhood that comes with his type of work, she said.
"He's not just losing a job," she said. "This is a way of life. He will lose all the bonds he has created in Rock Hill. They do incredibly brave things together on a daily basis."
Rock Hill lawyer Dirk Aydlette said extending Cooper's employment in the face of its policy infringes on the city's rights to deal with personnel issues.
"We have a public interest to keeping an orderly workplace," Aydlette said.
"We need to be allowed latitude to make day-to-day decisions."
Technically, the city can fire employees for any reason, so this opens the door for any disgruntled employee to take them to court, Aydlette said.
Elkin countered that firing wouldn't be allowed if the reason - such as marriage to a certain person - was protected under federal civil rights. But that's an argument for the actual case.
Rock Hill Human Resources Director Phyllis Fauntleroy declined to comment after the hearing. City Manager Carey Smith said in a statement that he couldn't speak about the legal proceedings of the case but continued to support Rock Hill's nepotism policy.
Cooper said he's not going to start looking for another job until he's officially fired.
