DAYTON—After several months of attending negotiations, board meetings and public meetings, former Dayton Memorial Library employee Shakira Bye has taken formal action. On June 13 Bye’s attorney, Jane Richards, filed a tort claim on Bye’s behalf. In Washington, a tort claim is required when filing an injury claim against the government and must be filed 60 days prior to a lawsuit being filed.

The claim names the Columbia County Library District (CCRLD), Board of Trustees, each trustee, the Library Director, Columbia County and the Columbia County Board of Commissioners.

In it, Bye claims that s...