Corrections officer sues Orange County, alleging retaliation

A seasoned Orange County correctional officer filed a lawsuit alleging she was retaliated against after she reported to human resources that her subordinate had inappropriately touched her.

The complaint said while Belinda Williams was a supervisor, a lower-ranking correctional officer made “unwelcomed physical contact” with her, according to records filed Wednesday in Orange County Circuit Court.

Williams filed a complaint about the incident with human resources in February 2020, records said. She also raised concerns of discrimination, saying, “Hispanic Corrections Officers were being treated better than African Americans,” according to court records.

Days later Williams’ supervisor, who is Hispanic, “reassigned [Williams’] job duties” to the Hispanic correctional officer who was the subject of Williams’ initial complaint, the lawsuit alleged.

“[The correctional officer] was never reprimanded for her actions, instead the company wrote a memo depicting [Williams] as loud, aggressive, and unprofessional,” the lawsuit said. “After [Williams] complained about discrimination, she suffered an adverse employment action.

“Her job duties were reassigned to [subordinate], another correctional officer of a lower rank than [Williams].”

Months later Williams filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stating she “was subjected to disparate treatment and a hostile work environment after her job duties were reassigned to her subordinate,” according to the complaint.

Williams worked as a correctional officer for 23 years, according to court records.

She is suing for monetary damages of over $50,000 for “for emotional pain and suffering related to being subjected to disparate treatment and retaliation for exercising her lawful right to complain about discrimination.”

Williams has requested a jury trial.

Tracy Zampaglione, a spokesperson for Orange County Corrections, said the county does not comment “on pending litigation.”