11/15/2007
Joan Morin, of Whitefield, who was hired by Maine Education Association in 1996 as a labor advocate, claims a co-worker made demeaning comments about her gender "for many years" and the organization's executive director failed to stop it.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Kennebec County Superior Court by Morin's attorney, Walter McKee.
"Primarily, this discriminatory conduct has been perpetuated by MEA employee Keith Harvie," the lawsuit says.
Morin's lawsuit says Harvie "continuously undermined (Morin's) work product" and "cast derogatory statements as to her work and her gender."
It quotes statements allegedly made by Harvie: "I am an alpha male and you're an alpha female; we can't have both. I am top dog, not you. You're the only woman I know with balls."
Harvie did not respond to a message left on his office phone Wednesday afternoon.
W. Gary Kohlman of the Washington, D.C., law firm Bredhoff & Kaiser is representing the education association and denied the claims.
"On behalf of MEA, the allegations in the complaint have been thoroughly investigated and found to be without merit," Kohlman said Wednesday.
The complaint alleges Morin filed an internal complaint about Harvie in June 2006, which was investigated by a different lawyer with Bredhoff & Kaiser.
As a result of that investigation, Harvie was suspended for five days without pay.
Later, Morin's lawsuit says, that discipline was rescinded.
Morin claims gender discrimination, imposition of a hostile work environment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision. She seeks punitive damages from the association.
She also says she suffered retaliation a result of filing a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission in July 2006. The complaint was not resolved there, and the commission issued a right-to-sue letter. The commission made no ruling on the matter, however.
"Joan Morin is a top-notch employee of MEA and is universally respected around the state for her incredible work on behalf of teachers and other school employees," McKee said in a press release.
"For her to have to endure this kind of treatment is unthinkable."
Morin has represented the Augusta teachers' union in grievances, contract negotiations, as well as teachers in School Administrative District 11, which educates students from Gardiner, Randolph, West Gardiner and Pittston.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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I too, know both parties. Joan Morin is a very strong woman and like it said in the article, (which of course doesn't portray everything she has endured) she has undergone this termoil for many years and kept her mouth shut, and finally decided enough was enough and something had to be done about it. She filed a formal complaint within the company and nothing was done, so she went futher and we'll see what the end result is.
Put yourself in her shoes...report abuse
report abuse
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