Published: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
County, ex-corrections officer settle sexual harassment lawsuit
EVERETT -- A former corrections officer at the Snohomish County Jail has settled a sexual-harassment lawsuit against the county for a six-figure payment and a formal apology.
Under the settlement, Angela Ernsdorff will receive $100,000. The county also agreed to provide a letter of apology that "thanks her for her service, and wishes her well," settlement paperwork says.
County attorneys agreed to pick up mediation fees and grant the former employee a 10-year service pin. The county admits to no wrongdoing and is released from future claims in the case.
The paperwork was signed in December.
The suit had been pending in King County Superior Court since October 2009.
Ernsdorff had worked for the jail since 2000. Her legal complaint alleged sexual harassment by a male supervisor in the work release program. The reported misconduct included inappropriate touching and looks, sexual advances and sexist epithets when she rebuffed him. The suit said that Ernsdorff suffered from workplace retaliation for trying to report the alleged misconduct.
The supervisor left work at the county in March 2009 and Ernsdorff returned shortly thereafter.
In a separate case settled in 2010, a male and female corrections officer received $50,000 each from the county to settle their lawsuit claiming sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. They also resigned their jobs as part of the settlement and released the county and a former supervisor --a different person than the one named in the other suit-- of any other claims for damages.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Under the settlement, Angela Ernsdorff will receive $100,000. The county also agreed to provide a letter of apology that "thanks her for her service, and wishes her well," settlement paperwork says.
County attorneys agreed to pick up mediation fees and grant the former employee a 10-year service pin. The county admits to no wrongdoing and is released from future claims in the case.
The paperwork was signed in December.
The suit had been pending in King County Superior Court since October 2009.
Ernsdorff had worked for the jail since 2000. Her legal complaint alleged sexual harassment by a male supervisor in the work release program. The reported misconduct included inappropriate touching and looks, sexual advances and sexist epithets when she rebuffed him. The suit said that Ernsdorff suffered from workplace retaliation for trying to report the alleged misconduct.
The supervisor left work at the county in March 2009 and Ernsdorff returned shortly thereafter.
In a separate case settled in 2010, a male and female corrections officer received $50,000 each from the county to settle their lawsuit claiming sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. They also resigned their jobs as part of the settlement and released the county and a former supervisor --a different person than the one named in the other suit-- of any other claims for damages.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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