April 29, 2010.  A race discrimination and retaliation civil rights lawsuit was filed today by African American Judith Edwards against the Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services (formerly MRDD).  Ms. Edwards was hired by the independent Hamilton County agency to recruit and retain African Americans and others in leadership positions.  Instead she became a casualty of discrimination herself.  The agency is largely taxpayer funded but is run by an independent Board.  Ms. Edwards worked at the agency for approximately nine months.  Before she was terminated she was offered a severance package worth approximately $90,000.00.  She turned it down choosing instead to fight for justice.