By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A civil lawsuit filed on Aug. 18 claims a former Shelby County Department of Human Resources employee forced a DHR client to perform sex acts on him in 2013 exchange for “not taking her kids.”

The lawsuit was filed by G. Courtney French of the Fuston, Petway and French law firm on behalf of a female DHR client. The lawsuit names 30-year-old Pelham resident and former DHR worker Brandon Daniel, Shelby County DHR supervisor Rasheda Gulley and Shelby County DHR Director Kim Mashego as defendants.

In the lawsuit, the woman claims Daniel visited her home in Alabaster on Aug. 20, 2013, without an appointment and “demanded that the plaintiff allow him to ‘inspect the house.’”

The lawsuit claims Daniel returned to the woman’s house the next day and “demanded that the plaintiff allow him to specifically ‘inspect the bedroom.’”

Daniel then allegedly closed the bedroom door, began kissing the woman’s neck and “demanded that the plaintiff offer him ‘something in return for not taking her kids,’” the lawsuit alleged. Daniel then forced the woman to perform sex acts on him, the lawsuit claims.

The suit also claims Gulley and Mashego “failed to properly hire, train and supervise” Daniel, and claimed they “negligently and wantonly allowed Daniel … to act beyond his authority or under a mistaken interpretation of the law as a DHR worker.”

On Aug. 27, Mashego said she was unable to comment on the pending litigation.

In the lawsuit, the woman is seeking a monetary award.

Daniel currently is facing criminal charges of soliciting for purpose of influencing official action, indecent exposure, harassment and third-degree theft of property. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and currently is awaiting trial on the matter.

On the morning of Aug. 22, 2013, Alabaster and Columbiana officers and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies closed off access to the Shelby County DHR office in Columbiana while police searched the building. Police charged Daniel with the crimes on the afternoon of Aug. 22, and he posted bonds totaling $40,000 the same day.