Jury Tosses Sexual Harassment Case Against Tennessee Ex-EMS Director
April 09—A federal jury on Thursday rejected a paramedic's claim she was fired from Monroe County Emergency Medical Services in retaliation for filing a sexual harassment report.
Jurors in U.S. District Court deliberated roughly six hours before ruling in favor of Monroe County in Wanda Ann Lawson's lawsuit against former Sheriff Randy White.
White had just been tapped by newly-elected Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates in August 2010 to head the county agency when he fired Lawson. White then rehired the EMS worker White's predecessor had fired after that employee allegedly admitted grabbing Lawson's breast a year earlier.
Tennessee is what is known as an "at-will employment" state, which means an employer is free to fire workers without cause. However, state and federal law protect employees from termination as retaliation for exercising constitutionally protected rights, such as filing a sexual harassment claim.
That meant Lawson's attorneys, Beecher Bartlett Jr. and Adam Russell, needed to convince the jury White's only basis for firing Lawson was that August 2009 complaint against her colleague.
"You can't terminate someone for an unlawful reason," Bartlett told jurors in closing arguments. "You can't retaliate against someone, so don't be misled by at-will employment."
Attorney Jonathan Taylor, who represented Monroe County, countered White fired Lawson because of complaints about her patient care. That she had once made a sexual harassment claim did not afford her a lifetime job protection, Taylor argued.
"Don't think she makes this report and can never be terminated," he told jurors.
White and Monroe County taxpayers were on the financial hook when the trial began Tuesday. However, U.S. District Judge Pamela Reeves ruled Wednesday that Lawson's defenders had not pierced the shield of immunity afforded White in carrying out his official duties.
White left his EMS director's job to run for sheriff in 2014. He won in a tight race, but a judge later opined he was not qualified to be sheriff. He is appealing.
More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel.
