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U.S. Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation by Franklin County, North Carolina

9/25/2009 - The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit (#09-1028) in federal court in Raleigh, N.C., against Franklin County, N.C., alleging that the county retaliated against a former employee in its Department of Public Utilities, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, after the employee complained about sexual harassment by a co-worker. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion. Title VII also prohibits retaliation against employees for opposing employment practices that they reasonably believe are discriminatory or for filing a complaint of employment discrimination.

According to the complaint, while Karen Dorrans was employed by the county, she complained to her supervisor and human resources manager about what she believed to be sexual harassment by a co-worker. identified in court records as Mark Prowell. The county instructed Dorrans that, in order for it to consider her complaint, she first had to confront the alleged harasser. According to the Justice Department's complaint, since Dorrans did not confront the alleged harasser, and in retaliation for her complaints, the county disciplined Dorrans by extending her probationary period of employment by six months, denying her a salary increase, issuing her a disciplinary "final warning" and significantly lowering her quarterly job performance ratings. The Justice Department is seeking an order from the court that the county take remedial steps to ensure a non-retaliatory workplace for its employees and that the county provide Dorrans with remedial relief, including back pay with interest and compensatory damages.

Though local newspaper, The Franklin Times, did not print this story in it's Saturday (9/26) edition, other local & national media outlets reaching as far as San Jose & Silicon Valley, California did pick it up.

Television and newspaper reports indicate that, after reporting the problem to her superiors, Dorrans was told by her supervisor and the county Human Resources Director that she must confront Prowell herself before they could consider her complaint. The Department of Justice contends that, when Dorrans didn't comply with the confrontation requirement and in retaliation for her allegations, the county disciplined Dorrans by extending her probationary period of employment by six months, denying her a salary increase, issuing her a disciplinary "final warning" and significantly lowering her quarterly job performance ratings.

"All workers deserve the freedom to go to work each day without fear of discrimination. Public employers should set an example for others by upholding the law and taking prompt and effective action to stop discrimination and retaliation," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King of the Civil Rights Division. "The Department of Justice will vigorously pursue such violations of Title VII."

Media attempts to contact County Manager, Angela Harris were referred to the County Attorney who was "unavailable" and, in true Franklin County form, did not return calls.

The enforcement of Title VII is a priority of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

see D.O.J. Press Release here

see ABC 11 news report video here

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