Former court officer claims harassment, bias
By Nick Hytrek Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 06, 2006
For more than three years, Bridget Hayes dealt with male employees who undermined her authority and unwanted sexual advances by a judge.
Eventually, the judges of Iowa's 3rd Judicial District fired her based on slanderous statements made by many of those same employees and because she complained about sexual harassment, Hayes claimed Tuesday, the first day of trial in her lawsuit against the state of Iowa.
"My career was raped. Professionally, I was on top of my game. ... There is no way I can recover in this area," said Hayes, the former chief juvenile court officer for the 3rd District, which includes 16 counties in Northwest Iowa.
Hayes is seeking lost wages from the state. She claims she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment and was subjected to sexual discrimination. District Judge Timothy O'Grady, from the 4th Judicial District in Council Bluffs, is presiding over the Woodbury County District Court trial.
In his opening remarks to the jury, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Grant Dugdale said Hayes was fired because she did a poor job.
"Evidence will show that the state of Iowa had legitimate reasons to terminate Ms. Hayes from her employment," Dugdale said.
During more than three hours of testimony, Hayes said the discrimination began as soon as she started the job in January 1998, when she took over for a former chief officer who had embezzled money. Then-Chief Judge Richard J. Vipond instituted an open-door policy in which anyone with complaints could report them directly to a judge. Hayes said male employees, especially former chief assistant John Calhoun, who were upset they were passed over for her job used the policy to "set her up."
"He would tell people I was working half days, that I was taking vacations without having vacation time," Hayes said. "John consistently undermined my ability to be chief."
Still, Hayes said, Vipond gave her a positive job evaluation in January 2000.
At about the same time, she said, District Judge John Ackerman, who at times was her direct supervisor, began harassing her.
Hayes said Ackerman flirted with her and on at least eight occasions put his arm around her, held her tightly and twisted her body so that her breast pressed against his chest.
"Sometimes my hand would be jammed in his crotch area," Hayes said.
Hayes testified that each time, she told Ackerman to stop, but she did not file written complaints because she wanted to keep her job.
"In a male-dominated culture, which that was, the male needs to stay in charge," Hayes said. "I would have been fired. I knew I would have."
Instead, Hayes said, she told 3rd District Court Administrator Leesa McNeil.
"She just told me (Ackerman) was a womanizer," Hayes said.
After her complaints to McNeil, Hayes received a poor job performance evaluation in March 2001. In it, Vipond said "optimism no longer exists" that she could build morale in the juvenile court office.
"I was shocked. No one had taken corrective action or told me to shape up," said Hayes, who pointed out that, prior to the evaluation, her office had received national recognition for its work.
Two months later, Hayes received a letter of discipline from Vipond saying she was failing to manage the office effectively. Hayes said Vipond never granted her request for a meeting to discuss his concerns. On May 25, 2001, she was given her notice of removal from office.
"I believe that, especially Judge Ackerman, he had told me to basically be submissive and I wasn't following his directives anymore, and I was out," said Hayes, who now works as critical care nurse at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City.
Tuesday's testimony ended with Hayes still answering questions from her attorney, Aaron Smeall of Omaha. Hayes will return to the witness stand at 9 a.m. today.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Eventually, the judges of Iowa's 3rd Judicial District fired her based on slanderous statements made by many of those same employees and because she complained about sexual harassment, Hayes claimed Tuesday, the first day of trial in her lawsuit against the state of Iowa.
"My career was raped. Professionally, I was on top of my game. ... There is no way I can recover in this area," said Hayes, the former chief juvenile court officer for the 3rd District, which includes 16 counties in Northwest Iowa.
Hayes is seeking lost wages from the state. She claims she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment and was subjected to sexual discrimination. District Judge Timothy O'Grady, from the 4th Judicial District in Council Bluffs, is presiding over the Woodbury County District Court trial.
In his opening remarks to the jury, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Grant Dugdale said Hayes was fired because she did a poor job.
"Evidence will show that the state of Iowa had legitimate reasons to terminate Ms. Hayes from her employment," Dugdale said.
During more than three hours of testimony, Hayes said the discrimination began as soon as she started the job in January 1998, when she took over for a former chief officer who had embezzled money. Then-Chief Judge Richard J. Vipond instituted an open-door policy in which anyone with complaints could report them directly to a judge. Hayes said male employees, especially former chief assistant John Calhoun, who were upset they were passed over for her job used the policy to "set her up."
"He would tell people I was working half days, that I was taking vacations without having vacation time," Hayes said. "John consistently undermined my ability to be chief."
Still, Hayes said, Vipond gave her a positive job evaluation in January 2000.
At about the same time, she said, District Judge John Ackerman, who at times was her direct supervisor, began harassing her.
Hayes said Ackerman flirted with her and on at least eight occasions put his arm around her, held her tightly and twisted her body so that her breast pressed against his chest.
"Sometimes my hand would be jammed in his crotch area," Hayes said.
Hayes testified that each time, she told Ackerman to stop, but she did not file written complaints because she wanted to keep her job.
"In a male-dominated culture, which that was, the male needs to stay in charge," Hayes said. "I would have been fired. I knew I would have."
Instead, Hayes said, she told 3rd District Court Administrator Leesa McNeil.
"She just told me (Ackerman) was a womanizer," Hayes said.
After her complaints to McNeil, Hayes received a poor job performance evaluation in March 2001. In it, Vipond said "optimism no longer exists" that she could build morale in the juvenile court office.
"I was shocked. No one had taken corrective action or told me to shape up," said Hayes, who pointed out that, prior to the evaluation, her office had received national recognition for its work.
Two months later, Hayes received a letter of discipline from Vipond saying she was failing to manage the office effectively. Hayes said Vipond never granted her request for a meeting to discuss his concerns. On May 25, 2001, she was given her notice of removal from office.
"I believe that, especially Judge Ackerman, he had told me to basically be submissive and I wasn't following his directives anymore, and I was out," said Hayes, who now works as critical care nurse at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City.
Tuesday's testimony ended with Hayes still answering questions from her attorney, Aaron Smeall of Omaha. Hayes will return to the witness stand at 9 a.m. today.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
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Keith wrote on Dec 22, 2006 8:51 AM:
How Ironic wrote on Dec 6, 2006 6:21 PM:
Steve C. wrote on Dec 6, 2006 9:10 AM: