retaliation
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El Paso County settles federal retaliation lawsuit against sheriff
El Paso County this week agreed to pay $188,500 to settle a federal lawsuit claiming Sheriff Bill Elder retaliated against two former sheriff’s employees after they reported a supervisor for sexual harassment. County commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the agreement, with Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez opposed. Commissioners did not discuss the settlement. A November 2018 claim…
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Federal judge tosses sprawling workplace retaliation lawsuit involving CU science program
A federal judge has dismissed on procedural grounds a lawsuit from one University of Colorado scientist that alleged whistleblower retaliation and harassment within a prominent environmental science program, as well as more serious accusations of potential espionage and bribery. Justin J.E. Mabie works as a research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences,…
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10th Circuit rules against Arvada religious school in employment discrimination appeal
The federal appeals court based in Denver has rejected an Arvada church’s argument that religious institutions are entitled to immunity from being sued for certain instances of employment-related retaliation. In a first-of-its-kind ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, a panel of judges decided, 2-1, that it had no ability to…
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Ex-Colorado Mesa University lacrosse coach may proceed with discrimination lawsuit
The former head coach of Colorado Mesa University’s women’s lacrosse team may proceed with her claim of discrimination against the school, after a federal judge found Shanta Loecker plausibly alleged her termination stemmed from her gender or race. The Colorado Attorney General’s Office, representing CMU, argued that if the university intended to discriminate against Loecker,…
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Ex-Montrose sheriff’s deputy failed to establish retaliation for complaining about racism, court finds
A Montrose County deputy’s text message complaining about racism and unprofessional conduct in the sheriff’s office was neither specific enough nor sufficiently in the public’s interest to shield him from retaliation, the federal appeals court based in Denver decided on Thursday. Brad Lamb, who the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office terminated in September 2015, believed he…
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10th Circuit agrees ex-coroner employee fired for performance, not medical leave
The federal appeals court based in Denver has concluded the coroner for Adams and Broomfield counties had legitimate performance-related reasons for firing an employee and did not, as alleged, retaliate against her for taking medical leave. Tiffany Litzsinger, who worked for the coroner’s office between 2013 and 2018, claimed that Chief Coroner Monica Broncucia-Jordan terminated Litzsinger…
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Report on Rep. Steve Lebsock’s alleged sexual misconduct provided to media
A 35-page Employers Council report detailing 11 allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct said to have been committed by Rep. Steve Lebsock of Thornton has been released to the media by one of the five women who filed the complaints. Cassie Tanner, a former legislative aide who was one of three women to make public…