ANNA MARIA – Former city treasurer LeAnne (Addy) Endres has filed a lawsuit against the city of Anna Maria alleging wrongful termination, age and disability discrimination, public whistleblower retaliation and more.
The lawsuit complaint also addresses the alleged misuse of city funds, the surveillance of a city employee and discussion about a potentially fraudulent FEMA claim.
Tallahassee-based employment law and civil rights attorney Marie Mattox filed the 21-page civil lawsuit complaint with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Bradenton on April 9. The complaint names Endres as the plaintiff and the city of Anna Maria as the defendant.
“This is an action brought under the Florida Civil Rights Act. This action involves claims which are, individually, in excess of $50,000, exclusive of costs and interest,” the complaint states.
The complaint demands a jury trial. The case is assigned to Judge Charles Sniffen.
On May 16, The Sun emailed City Attorney Becky Vose and Mayor Mark Short seeking their comments on the lawsuit.
Short wrote, “The city contests the allegations in the complaint and outside counsel will vigorously defend the case in court.”
As of Tuesday, May 19, the city’s formal written response to the lawsuit complaint had not yet been filed.
ANNA MARIA TENURE
In August 2016, Addy, a Minnesota resident, was hired by Mayor Dan Murphy, with city commission authorization, to serve as city clerk. In March 2017, the city commission unanimously approved Murphy’s request to appoint Addy to also serve as city treasurer and finance director.
In January 2023, Addy and Andrew James Endres were issued a Florida marriage license and certificate of marriage, which is on file with the Manatee County Clerk of the Court’s office.
In January 2025, Amber LaRowe was hired to serve as the city clerk because the city clerk’s position and the city treasurer’s job were being divided into two separate positions again. In March 2025, LaRowe began her tenure as the city clerk, with Endres serving as the city treasurer.
On Nov. 17, 2025, Short terminated the city treasurer’s employment.
When confirming the termination in an email provided to the media, Short stated, “As of Monday, Nov. 17, City Treasurer LeAnne Addy is no longer employed by the city of Anna Maria.”
Short did not provide any additional details about the treasurer’s departure.
In February, Randy Maxon was named the new city treasurer.
According to her Facebook page, Endres now works as a realtor in the Artisan Lakes, Palmetto and Tampa Bay areas.
LAWSUIT ALLEGATIONS
According to the lawsuit complaint, “On or around December 19, plaintiff (Endres) received a notice of internal investigation letter from Short, via email, which falsely alleged that plaintiff improperly used city funds and account points for personal use.
“On or around January 5, plaintiff denied these spurious claims in an email to LaRowe and Short. Throughout plaintiff’s employment with defendant, she always ensured that receipts for city purchases were turned in correctly. Plaintiff contends that these allegations are further retaliatory treatment against plaintiff for engaging in protected activity.”
The complaint alleges Endres, 57, was subjected to disparate treatment and retaliation due to her age, her chronic autoimmune disorder and because she reported employment activities she felt were unlawful.
“The disparate treatment and retaliation came at the hands of, specifically but not limited to, plaintiff’s direct supervisor, Mayor Mark Short, and City Clerk Amber LaRowe,” the complaint alleges.
The complaint states Endres, in the summer of 2025, verbally reported concerns to LaRowe and Short regarding the employment status of two part-time code enforcement employees.
“Short and LaRowe dismissed plaintiff’s concerns, refusing to follow standard procedures regarding 1099-contracted workers. LaRowe and Short stated that they did not want to pay benefits such as Florida State Retirement, which would be required if they hired Fuller or Bloom as permanent part-time employees,” the complaint alleges.
EMPLOYEE SURVEILLANCE
The complaint alleges that on or around September 2025, Endres was in LaRowe’s office with LaRowe and then-Code Enforcement Manager Dave DeZutter when LaRowe and DeZutter suggested tracking Public Works Director Dean Jones by hiding an AirTag tracking device in his work vehicle without his knowledge because they deemed him to be “suspicious.”
The complaint states Endres advised LaRowe and Dezutter against using an AirTag and she suggested they look into a Verizon employee tracking service instead, which would allow them to properly track employees with their permission and notification.
“Dezutter and LaRowe dismissed plaintiff’s concerns, stating that hiding an AirTag in Jones’ car seemed to be a simple option,” the complaint alleges.
“On or around November 10, Jones verbally reported to plaintiff that he found an AirTag hidden in his work vehicle. On or around November 13, 2025, Dean called plaintiff to inform her that he filed a police report with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department regarding the AirTag in his car and the sheriff’s department advised that the AirTag would have to be turned in to them,” the complaint states.
“On November 17, plaintiff engaged in protected activity when she reported the information she received from Jones in an email to Short and LaRowe. Plaintiff noted in her email that she was requesting confirmation that tracking devices or monitoring tools were not being used on any employee of defendant (the city). Short and LaRowe failed to act on or respond to this report,” the complaint alleges.
“Approximately five minutes later, in retaliation for plaintiff’s protected report, plaintiff received a termination notice from Short via email, with an offer for voluntary resignation. Defendant failed to provide a cause for plaintiff’s termination in the letter, violating the city charter policy,” the complaint alleges.
“After plaintiff refused to resign, Short sent plaintiff an email stating that the offer to resign voluntarily had been rescinded, threatening to withhold plaintiff’s severance payment pending the outcome of a post-termination audit. She has not received the severance payment to date. Further, defendant refused to provide plaintiff with her accrued vacation pay,” the complaint alleges.
The complaint claims Endres’ position as city treasurer was protected by the city charter and her termination required cause, city commission approval and due process.
Sec. 5.04 of the Anna Maria city charter says, “The mayor, with the approval of the city commission, shall appoint a city treasurer who shall be bonded.”
Sec. 5.03 of the charter says, “The city clerk may, if appointed by the mayor with approval of the city commission, fulfill the office and duties of city treasurer.”
Sec. 4.03 of the charter says the mayor can suspend with pay, suspend without pay, or terminate charter officers for cause, “provided such action is approved by a majority of the city commission at its next regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.”
To the best of The Sun’s knowledge, Endres’ termination was not discussed or approved by the city commission during a public meeting.
HURRICANE REPAIRS
“Shortly after March 25, 2025, Short met with plaintiff and Public Works Director Dean Jones. Short suggested that they illegally claim that a previously damaged seawall was damaged as a result of a recent hurricane to request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finance the repairs,” the complaint alleges.
“Plaintiff immediately objected to this suggestion, pointing out that it would go against FEMA policy. Short continued to list several other items for FEMA repair financing, to which plaintiff continued to oppose, as the items were unrelated to the recent hurricane, as it was illegal to have FEMA pay for these repairs,” the complaint alleges.
ADA, AGE ALLEGATIONS
The complaint states Endres suffers from chronic autoimmune disorder, which affected her daily and work life, yet she was able to perform the essential functions of her position.
“On or around October 28, 2025, plaintiff submitted an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) request to Short and LaRowe via email to receive accommodations for short breaks and minor schedule adjustments, including increased remote work, due to her disability. Plaintiff was never provided a response or the requested accommodations,” the complaint states.
The complaint also says, “Plaintiff has been the victim of discrimination on the basis of her age in that she was treated differently than similarly situated younger employees of defendant and has been subject to hostility and poor treatment on the basis, at least in part, of her age.
“On or around April 10, 2025, plaintiff attended a staffing discussion regarding hiring for a finance assistant position. During the meeting, Short verbally advised that he was ‘looking for someone in their thirties,’ and did not wish to hire anyone old, to which LaRowe agreed,” the complaint alleges.
The complaint alleges younger city employees received pay increases and Endres did not.
RELIEF SOUGHT
In closing, the complaint says, “Plaintiff demands judgment against defendant for the following: That this court grant equitable relief against defendant under the applicable counts set forth, mandating defendant’s obedience to the laws enumerated herein and providing other equitable relief to plaintiff; enter judgment against defendant and for plaintiff awarding all legally available general and compensatory damages and economic loss to plaintiff from defendant for defendant’s violations of law; enter judgment against defendant and for plaintiff permanently enjoining defendant from future violations of law enumerated herein; enter judgment against defendant and for plaintiff awarding plaintiff attorney’s fees and costs; and grant such other further relief as being just and proper under the circumstances, including but not limited to reinstatement.”
