Female Prison Guards Allege Sexual Assault, Harassment

Three female guards at a Michigan state prison filed separate suits Wednesday accusing male co-workers of sexually harassing and assaulting them. The suits contend the misconduct began as early as 2000 at Pugsley Correctional Facility. Two of the plaintiffs claim the alleged harassment caused them such severe emotional distress that they had to undergo medical treatment, but the Corrections Department denied them lost wages and benefits.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.
Three female guards at a Michigan state prison filed separate lawsuits accusing male co-workers of sexually harassing and assaulting them. The suits, filed Wednesday in Grand Traverse County Circuit Court, contend the misconduct began as early as 2000 at the Pugsley Correctional Facility in Kingsley, Mich., 25 miles south of Traverse City, Mich. Three current employees, including a supervisor, are named as defendants, as is the Michigan Department of Corrections. The plaintiffs, anonymously listed as Jane D. Poe, Jane J. Doe, and Jane K. Roe, said they were subjected to unwanted sexual advances and “touching” that violated their civil rights and created a hostile work environment. The Corrections Department is liable because the supervisor directly in charge of the three women at various times knew of the situation and participated in the harassment, rather than investigate or stop it. “I am hopeful that the government is willing to come forward at the beginning of this to make this situation right with these women,” Blake Ringsmuth, a Traverse City attorney representing the woman, told the Traverse City Record-Eagle newspaper. Corrections spokesman Leo Lalonde said Wednesday that he wasn’t aware of the suits and could not comment on them. “We have advice from the attorney general’s office not to respond or comment about any ongoing litigation,” he said. Each of the three suits seeks more than $25,000 in damages and asks the court to grant orders allowing the women to remain anonymous so they can avoid “substantial embarrassment, humiliation and social stigma.” Two of the plaintiffs no longer work at the Pugsley facility, a one-time prison camp that was converted in January 2001 to a Secure Level I prison, the lowest level of security among Michigan’s prisons. Both of those women claim the alleged harassment caused them such severe emotional distress that they had to undergo medical treatment, but the Corrections Department denied them lost wages and benefits. Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Benefits of a Digital Membership:

  • Free access to 3 articles* every 30 days
  • Access to the entire ALM network of websites
  • Unlimited access to the ALM suite of newsletters
  • Build custom alerts on any search topic of your choosing
  • Search by a wide range of topics

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

Trending Stories

 

Featured Product

Global Briefing

A weekly, curated selection of our international content from around the globe, across the business of law, in-house, regulatory, technology and more, with expert insights from our senior editors.

Learn More

More from ALM

 

ALM Legal Publication Newsletters

Sign Up Today and Never Miss Another Story.

As part of your digital membership, you can sign up for an unlimited number of a wide range of complimentary newsletters. Visit your My Account page to make your selections. Get the timely legal news and critical analysis you cannot afford to miss. Tailored just for you. In your inbox. Every day.

Privacy Policy

About Us / Contact Us / Site Map / Advertise With Us/ Customer Service / Terms of Service/ FAQ / Privacy Policy

Publications

Law Topics

Rankings

More

Law.com

Copyright © 2020 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All Rights Reserved.