GCW Lawyers Files 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 Lawsuit To Redress Retaliatory and Sexually Discriminatory Treatment

MADISON, Wis., Oct. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Western District of Wisconsin – Paul A. Kinne, Attorney at Gingras, Cates & Wachs, filed a lawsuit against the present Chairman of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) on behalf of a former WERC employee who was laid-off because of her gender, and in retaliation for her political beliefs and speech.

The plaintiff, a licensed attorney who practices as a full-time mediator / arbitrator, was introduced to the defendant in 2016 when she returned to a position at the WERC. In the first eight months of the plaintiff's return to WERC, she and the defendant did not speak except for her introduction to him on her first day of employment. However, there were several occasions on which the defendant spoke of how he did not trust the plaintiff and believed she was a liability because of her political beliefs. The defendant believed the WERC needed to find a way to get rid of her.

When Governor Walker signed the 2017-2019 Budget Bill into law, the defendant became the Chairman of the WERC and therefore the plaintiff's boss. From the beginning of his tenure the defendant assigned fewer cases to the plaintiff in comparison to her fellow, male employees. He then took her off the list that stated she could provide arbitration services, which affected her professional reputation and outside work.

The plaintiff sent a message to the defendant about his discriminatory and unprofessional behavior.  She attributed his mistreatment to gender discrimination and retaliation for her political beliefs. He responded a few hours later with: "I acknowledge receipt." Days after this message, the plaintiff was notified of her layoff. In the period leading up to the plaintiff's layoff, the defendant testified to a Wisconsin senate committee that the staffing at the WERC was appropriate for the workload.

"This type of behavior is completely unacceptable," said Paul Kinne, the plaintiff's attorney. "GCW does not stand for discriminatory or retaliatory behavior of any kind, and we hope this lawsuit is a step towards making that stop within the workplace."

The plaintiff seeks compensation both for economic and emotional harm.  She also seeks punitive damages. 

Gingras, Cates & Wachs has offices in Eau Claire, Madison and Milwaukee with more than a dozen attorneys that serve all of Wisconsin. We believe in righting the wrong, and that's how we've done business for more than 30 years.

SOURCE GCW Lawyers

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