Lawsuit filed against county, sheriff
Former Sutter County correctional officer alleges sexual harassment and other discrimination
A former Sutter County correctional officer is suing the county and sheriff’s office for sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, disability discrimination and wrongful termination.
In the suit filed in Yuba County Superior Court on Monday, Maria Tahara alleges that on a daily basis, during the last three years of her employment, she was subjected to sexual harassment by her supervisor and coworker, which she says included unwanted touching of her posterior, touching and rubbing of her groin area and legs, fondling of her arms and shoulders, and cornering her into rooms with threats of sexual assault while blocking the exit, and verbal sexual innuendos.
“Plaintiff opposed the repeated inappropriate sexual comments and ongoing environment of accepting sexual innuendos and sexual misconduct of the Sutter County Jail,” according to the suit. “Additionally, plaintiff reported the ongoing acceptance of sexual assaults ongoing in the Sutter County Jail as plaintiff believed all of this conduct to be inappropriate, immoral and unlawful.”
According to the suit, Tahara – who worked for the department for over nine years – developed mental and physical disabilities including exhaustion, anxiety and depression. In October last year, her medical provider ordered her off work due to a medical condition including her mental and physical disabilities, precipitated in part by the sexual harassment experienced by working, according to the suit. Her request for medical leave was denied. In December, she was terminated for possessing a disability, needing a medical leave of absence and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit was filed in Yuba County Superior Court because she believes that wrongful conduct occurred in Yuba County, according to the suit.
Only Sutter County and the Sheriff’s Office were named as defendants she didn’t name her supervisor or coworkers who engaged in the harassment.
It seeks damages to be determined, including compensatory, general and punitive damages, attorney’s fees and relief for loss of earnings and employment benefits. It also seeks an order requiring the county and sheriff’s office conduct training for all employees, supervisors and management on the requirements of the Fair Employment and Housing Act. It alleges that the defendants violated state public policy by terminating her employment for actual or perceived disability and her complaints of misconduct.
Sutter County Public Information Officer Chuck Smith said the county does not comment on pending litigation. Business hours: Monday-friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.