Franklin County, North Carolina, Slapped with Federal Lawsuit for Retaliation

A former employee of Franklin County’s Department of Public Utilities has filed a federal lawsuit against the county, accusing it of retaliating against her for speaking out against sexual harassment in the workplace. The lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Raleigh, North Carolina, on behalf of the federal government.

According to the lawsuit, Karen Dorrans, a former employee of Franklin County’s Department of Public Utilities, complained to her supervisor and human resources manager about what she believed to be sexual harassment by a co-worker. However, the county allegedly retaliated against her 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,’ said Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King of the Civil Rights Division. ‘Public employers should set an example for others by upholding the law and taking prompt and effective action to stop discrimination and retaliation.’

The federal lawsuit alleges that Franklin County’s actions were in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion. The lawsuit also alleges that the county’s actions were in retaliation for Dorrans’ complaints about sexual harassment.

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.

The enforcement of Title VII is a priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its Web sites at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ and http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp.

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