Lawsuits Revealed, No One Left to Discipline

Officials in Delaware County (Okla.) acknowledge that a former 911 dispatch supervisor and dispatcher filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuits against the 911 agency back in 2009, but note that none of the participants still works for the county. Both lawsuits are still active in the U.S. District Court: Joey Lambert claims she was the subject of sexual harassment by former County E911 Trust Authority head Don Murphy, while Shelby Haggard states in her lawsuit that Murphy retaliated against when she took Lambert’s complaints to the Authority board. The county has denied the claims in both lawsuits, and none of the participants has been willing to speak with reporters. Lambert claims that Murphy asked her whether she had a boyfriend, grabbed and hugged her, and tried to kiss her. Murphy repeatedly telephoned Lambert, the lawsuit says, and eventually Lambert sought medical treatment, “for the anxiety and stress from sexual harassment.” Lambert reported Murphy’s activities to former sheriff Jay Blackfox, the district attorney and county commissioners, and later Murphy was placed on leave during an investigation. However, Haggard says weeks later Murphy demoted her, changed her duties, and docked her for unworked time, all in retaliation for her complaints. Read more about the lawsuits here, and download (pdf) the federal lawsuits and the county’s response here. Update: In April 2013 the women settled their lawsuits for $31,000 and $86,500 respectively.