Lawsuits claim harassment
Three lawsuits claiming sexual and racial harassment filed in federal court state that after three men came forward to an official for Floyd County Schools about the incidents concerning their supervisor, they were retaliated against and he never faced an
Three men have accused their former supervisor at Coosa High School of subjecting them to severe and pervasive sexual harassment, and in one man’s case, racial harassment as well, according to three lawsuits filed in federal court.
According to the lawsuits filed earlier this week:
The incidents occurred while James Cromer Sr., James Cromer Jr. and Edwin Howell were working as custodians at the school, under the supervision of Scott Justice. The lawsuit does not detail when every incident allegedly occurred or how long the three men worked at the school. It only indicates the time period of the incident — in late summer 2016 — that prompted the three men to report what had allegedly occurred, and then the date, Aug. 31, 2016, when a formal complaint was made to an official with Floyd County Schools.
After hearing the three men’s claims about Justice’s actions, Glenn White,
Floyd County Schools’ director of student services, criticized their work performance and touted Justice as a “valuable employee with a long and successful career with Floyd County.”
Without investigating the allegations, White transferred the men to other schools, while Justice was never disciplined.
John Jackson, the system’s superintendent, said Cromer Sr. and Justice still work for Floyd County Schools, while Cromer Jr. resigned around the time of last year’s alleged incident and Howell retired last week. Jackson said he could not comment further on the lawsuit because it is ongoing.
Cromer Sr. and Cromer Jr. were both hit in the testicles by Justice in one instance each, and “Justice then smiled and laughed about it in a mocking way.”
Justice also told the men that they looked good, using a “swooning voice.” Howell was told this on one occasion, but Justice commented on the appearances of the Cromers on a frequent basis, using the same voice. However, Justice used a kissing sound in one instance to tell Howell he was sweet.
“These were not mere complaints,” the lawsuits state.
Howell was the only black custodian at Coosa High and was often sent by Justice to different schools for work — he was the only custodian who had to do this. When Howell questioned Justice as to why this was happening, he was told he would be fired if he didn’t do as he was told.
During one time that Howell was directed to go to another school, he asked Justice why, after being told not to complain. Justice is quoted in the lawsuit telling Howell, “I don’t want none of that Martin Luther King stuff from you … your folks have already gotten enough of their way.”
The instance that pushed the men to formally complain happened when the three men, along with some other employees, were in the school’s cafeteria. Justice inappropriately touched Cromer Jr. while he was waxing the floor, leaving him “angry, mortified, humiliated” and he “felt powerless to object or defend himself.”
Floyd County police did not have any records or criminal complaints from the three men on allegations against Justice regarding the incidents and lawsuits, said Assistant Police Chief Mark Wallace on Thursday.
The three men were unable to report it to their supervisor because that person was Justice. So, Cromer Jr. contacted a human resources employee at Etowah Employment Agency, which placed the three men in their jobs at Coosa High. It was brought up that the three men could meet with White. The woman said it was a good idea and relayed to Cromer Jr. that other employees were having similar issues with Justice.
During the meeting, White “sided with Justice and turned on the victims.” The three men had no prior disciplinary issues. White did not respond to a request for comment.
The defendants in the lawsuits are Floyd County Schools, the Floyd County Board of Education, Etowah Employment Agency and Justice.
About five hours after the meeting with White, after he’d been informed of his transfer, Cromer Jr. was terminated from his job. The transfer would have added 12 miles to the distance he’d have to get to work.
The “defendants retaliated against Cromer Sr. by transferring him,” after he came forward with the complaints and sought help. This too was cited as a challenge for him to get to work.
Howell originally had his schedule changed, but recently was informed that the potential lawsuit prompted the defendants to transfer him to a school farther away from his home.
When contacted Thursday, a representative of Etowah Employment said they were told by their attorney that the lawsuits were filed incorrectly and they shouldn’t have been named as a defendant. The representative refused to identify herself.
Louis Cohan, an attorney from Atlanta-based Cohan Law Group LLC who is representing the three men, said that due to the nature of the allegations in the lawsuits, he was not comfortable answering specific questions on Thursday.