A woman who said she was fired from the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office for taking too many sick days filed a civil suit this month against the county in Frederick County Circuit Court.

Diane Seltzer, the Washington lawyer representing Amy Hill-Boyer, requested a trial by jury to hear her client's complaints of violations of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

A full-time victim-witness coordinator with the state's attorney's office for nearly 10 years, Ms. Hill-Boyer's suit accuses State's Attorney Scott Rolle of denying her leave time she was entitled and firing her in October when she followed a doctor's orders to continue to use it. Mr. Rolle declined to comment Thursday, following the advice of the county's attorneys.

Ms. Hill-Boyer first made her allegations public in November, about a month after sending a letter to the county complaining of the violations.

Ms. Seltzer, whose law firm concentrates on employment law, wants the court to find the state's attorney's office in violation of the federal act and to order such practices to end.

Along with asking the court to award Ms. Hill-Boyer back and future pay and fringe benefits, her lawyer is seeking damages, court costs and penalties against the county for failing to provide the Frederick woman with notice of her FMLA rights.

The suit does not specify a financial amount.

Ms. Seltzer also wants the court to order the county to reinstate Ms. Hill-Boyer in her job and not retaliate against her in any way for filing the suit.

As a victim-witness coordinator, Ms. Hill-Boyer kept crime victims informed about their cases as they moved through the legal process. She assisted trial attorneys with keeping track of the witnesses and explaining legal proceedings.

When confronted by Mr. Rolle and Charlie Smith, deputy state's attorney, about "sick leave abuse" issues in December 2004, Ms. Hill-Boyer informed them about serious health conditions affecting her and her young son, according to the suit.

Documentation from doctors and therapists throughout the next year were ignored, according to the suit.

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