Winder facing sexual harassment lawsuit

Posted by
Mike Buffington
in Winder Archives
Wednesday, November 11. 2009
Comments (17)
Allegations surrounding an impending federal lawsuit against the City of Winder by a former employee paint verbal interactions between some high-level city employees as being sexually charged. The allegations also claim that some employees visited a strip club in New Orleans in 2008 while on a city-paid trip and that nude photos were also “shared” during that business trip.

In a lawsuit slated to be filed this week, former Winder employee Sue Fowler alleges that she was fired from her position during the layoffs earlier this year for having filed an internal sexual harassment complaint against her boss, Finance Director Leslie Ginn, in the spring of 2008.

Ginn was disciplined by the city in May 2008, after an internal investigation found she had violated the city’s harassment and electronic and telephonic systems usage policies.

But in the large layoff nine months later, it was the employee whose harassment complaint sparked that internal review — accounts payable clerk Fowler — who found herself among those out of work.

Attorney Kristine Orr Brown, a Gainesville employment attorney, this summer filed a complaint on Fowler’s behalf with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. But the details of that complaint and the contents of the EEOC investigation are not public record. Brown also would not comment on what reportedly was an unsuccessful attempt last Thursday to resolve the case through mediation by Miles Mediation & Arbitration Services LLC of Atlanta. But she did confirm that she is now drafting a federal lawsuit that should be filed no later than Friday in U.S. District Court in Gainesville.

“We intend to move forward with our claims against the city that do not have to go before the EEOC,” said Brown, one of the principals at Orr Brown Johnson LLP. “Those would be claims under (Title) 42 USC Section 1983 that provides for actions against government entities for general discrimination including sexual harassment.”

For the complete story, see the Nov. 11 issue of The Barrow Journal.
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)
#1 Liber Tarian on 11/11/09 at 02:42 PM [Reply]
Why did the city of Winder ever pay for a trip to New Orleans? This is why government "workers" cry so hard when they are laid off from their [do-nothing] jobs: all those lovely freebies and perks.
#1.1 Anonymous on 11/12/09 at 06:52 AM [Reply]
Instead of being jealous where these employees go and why they are there, question the supervision. By the way, before you go and say these employees "do nothing", find out what an accounts payable clerk does. This way you may prevent people from thinking that you're ignorant.
#1.1.1 MKR on 11/12/09 at 07:48 AM [Reply]
I doesn't have anything to do with jealousy. It has everything to do with fiscal responsibility. I doubt you will be able convince many taxpayers that there is a valid reason for employees of the city of Winder to take a tax payer sponsored trip to New Orleans. There is absolutely nothing going on there that would have a justifiable impact on the city of Winder. People have been losing their jobs because of budget cuts. No conference, training seminar, brain storming session or any other event in New Orleans is worth spending one dime of tax payer money to go there.
#1.1.2 Liber Tarian on 11/12/09 at 11:42 AM [Reply]
So, you think it's okay for Winder "workers" to go to New Orleans strip clubs on the taxpayer dime? You must have been a member of the "party" to have that odious opinion. When you read the entire LONG story, it seems both of these women are Sex Fiends. And, before any of you apologists start bleating "private life!" note that taxpayer money was spent, and the victim has filed a public law suit. Plus, the accused woman has responded in graphic detail about the extent of their hormone-dripped exploits.
#1.1.2.1 Ready for a City change on 11/12/09 at 06:22 PM [Reply]
Did you not see where the Finance Director was found to be in violation of 3 major policies???? Each policy alone should have been a termination for her. Any other employee would have been terminated on the spot but it is apparent that Beck has a "special interest" in Ginn.

Also, if you take the time to actually read the LONG story, you will see that Fowler's attorney denied these alligations and will prove it in Federal Court.
#1.1.2.1.1 Vox Populi on 11/12/09 at 11:41 PM [Reply]
"Fowler's attorney denied these alligations[sic]."

Oh, well, excuuuse me then. If an attorney says the ALLEGATIONS aren't true then that must be the way it is.

Do you believe in the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy?

An attorney is HIRED to be a mouthpiece.
O.J. Simpson's attorney says he didn't do it, either.

But, in your agenda, Fowler is definitely going to be PROVEN a truth-telling machine.
Sounds like you have a dog in this hunt.
#1.1.2.1.2 Inside City Limits on 11/13/09 at 07:27 AM [Reply]
Bob Beck does control the City.

I have heard that he takes a NAP for 2 hours everyday in
his office while they close the blinds so he can sleep.
Thats on Tax paper dollars as well.
#1.1.2.1.2.1 Anonymous on 11/24/09 at 04:14 PM [Reply]
What is Bob Beck's salary? Is it public record? Somebody please find out and post it, hell post the entire city's salaries, concerned citizens have the right to know! Why do we have a mayor if Beck runs the city...
#1.1.2.2 Trying To Think on 11/12/09 at 07:40 PM [Reply]
Calling them "sex feinds" seems to be a little harsh. I hope you actually know the women personally before you start attacking their character...
#1.1.2.2.1 Hor Monal on 11/12/09 at 09:56 PM [Reply]
Well, when they attend wife-swapping sex clubs, exchange nude photographs, and feel each other's boobs for "informational" purposes, it seems they aren't nuns.
#1.1.2.2.1.1 Anonymous on 11/13/09 at 07:05 AM [Reply]
According to the report, it was only Ginn that attended a wife swapping club ans showed nude pictures.
#2 Ready for a City change on 11/12/09 at 08:46 PM [Reply]
Why was an outside investigator not brought in? Why did The City of Winder have their Clerk instead of the Human Resource Director do the investigation since no independant investigator was brought in?

Where is our council???? Does Beck totally control the City?
#2.1 Inside City Limits on 11/13/09 at 07:52 AM [Reply]
That is because the Human Resource Director is under Bob Becks thumb as well. He is the one who makes all the calls.

There is no justice in the those walls.

I am Thankful finally all the "can do no wrong" folks are
being brought out into the open.
#3 Inside City Limits on 11/17/09 at 10:28 AM [Reply]
It is high time to clean house at Winder City Hall.

The residents of Winder deserve much better.
#4 Lisa on 11/20/09 at 09:49 AM [Reply]
This stuuff has been going on for CENTRY"S in this little bitty town. It is not the last time this will happen the only problem is now.... somebody lost there job hire her back she'll shut up!!
#5 Penny on 11/22/09 at 10:43 PM [Reply]
Just thought the people of Winder should know this was not the first trip of this kind,but will hopefully be the last,at tax payers expense.I had a relative who worked for the city who I believe was fired for their unwillingness to "swing" a certain way with certain people.They was told that their job position was going to be done away with,only to find out that the day after cleaning their desk out,that they had been replaced,by someone who evidently give excellent massages but had no experience in this area of work.I personally think that someone should be called in for a full investigation going atleast 2 years back,or if possible further back than that.Everything and everybody should be checked out. I know that there was people being paid for 40 hours a week,that done good to be there 20 hours a week.Every nook and cranny should be looked at,you'll see that this is just the tip of a very large iceburg!!!It's time to take the trash out people! The people of Winder deserve better than this!!
#6 Inside City Limits on 12/03/09 at 11:40 AM [Reply]
I have heard that " Beck " has made many comments to others there.

For example:
Your putting on weight - losing that ass that I hired you for.

These are the folks that are being dressed with our tax dollars.

High Time to Clean House
Add Comment
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.
To leave a comment you must approve it via e-mail, which will be sent to your address after submission.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

 
   
 
Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.
 

Recent Stories

Injured local soldier coming home May 30
Friday, May 24 2013
Peggy Ann Wall (5-17-13)
Friday, May 24 2013
Schadenfreude: Watching Obama squirm
Friday, May 24 2013
Scouting Report: BCA vs. Crisp Academy
Friday, May 24 2013
Grant, Sokol resign from WBHS
Thursday, May 23 2013

Recent Comments

JD about Statham city council discusses relocating city hall
Thu, May 23, 2013 - 07:55 PM
How about holding off on the complaining until everything is out on the table. This is a very [...]
concerned tax payer about Statham city council discusses relocating city hall
Thu, May 23, 2013 - 12:10 PM
What a complete waste of money....something the city knows far to well how to do. There is no [...]
Mike M. about Officials try to verify reason Peskin missed court date
Tue, May 21, 2013 - 12:21 PM
Something ios smelling fishy here
V about We are all Bostonians now
Fri, May 17, 2013 - 07:43 AM
False Flag to roll out the police state.
Hmmm about Father of BOC member could face charges in helicopter incident involving Sonny Perdue
Thu, May 16, 2013 - 08:23 AM
"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in [...]
Two Issues about that about Father of BOC member could face charges in helicopter incident involving Sonny Perdue
Wed, May 15, 2013 - 03:26 PM
1. You live near an AIRPORT, therefore AIR TRAFFIC will occur, I recommend selling or getting [...]

Signup to receive Journal Headline Previews and Breaking News Email Alerts

This Week's Poll

Sister Sites

BanksNews TODAY
BraseltonNews TODAY
CommerceNews TODAY
JacksonHerald TODAY
MadisonJournal TODAY
MainStreetNews OBITS
MainStreetNews SPORTS
MainStreetNews.com
Copyright © 2008-2012 MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.