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NEWS JUNE 22, 2020 ¦ 7

Court Allows Discrimination
Lawsuit Vs. State Judiciary

By Robert Storace

AConnecticut federal judge has said a lawsuit
filed on behalf of a black woman who sued
the Connecticut Judicial Branch claiming ra-
cial discrimination and a hostile work environment
can continue.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden
said the Title VII claim of Secrett Hampton against
the branch can continue. Bolden also let stand three
state law claims, including intentional infliction of
emotional distress. The judge, however, threw out
claims of disparate treatment against three of Hamp-
ton’s supervisors.
The plaintiff worked as a juvenile detention trans-
portation officer since 2008. She brought a claim
under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as Connecticut U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden.
amended in the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which pro- Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

hibits racial discrimination. It alleges Hampton and another employee were
“The judge made the right call with regard to Ti- transporting a violent inmate to a medical appoint-
tle VII. There was no other rationale decision,” said ment. That inmate, who had past behavioral issues,
William Palmieri, the New Haven solo practitioner according to the lawsuit, escaped while under the
who has represented Hampton and five other black supervision of the plaintiff. He was later appre-
or Hispanic current or former Judicial Branch em- hended.
ployees. Soon after, the lawsuit alleges,
The cases are separate, but all Hampton was told “to hand in her
allege racial discrimination with- badge,” and was placed on unpaid
in the branch, Palmieri said. In administrative leave. Hampton
one case, Palmieri said, he won A federal judge in was fired soon after. But because
a $550,000 jury verdict in 2018 Connecticut threw out she won a union arbitration, she
against the branch over racial some claims, but let a racial was later reinstated.
discrimination claims from one discrimination lawsuit
Hispanic employee. proceed against the state’s The lawsuit states that a white
employee who had a similar inci-
Palmieri said Hampton, a New Judicial Branch. dent with another inmate was not

Haven resident in her 40s, is still disciplined. Instead, that white
employed at the Judicial Branch. employee was later promoted, the
The crux of the amended Au- lawsuit says,
gust 2019 lawsuit alleges Hampton’s supervisors The lawsuit says the treatment of Hampton and
acted with malice toward her following an inci- the white employee shows the judicial branch “dis-
dent with a juvenile inmate because of the color criminated against her in the terms and conditions
of her skin.
¦ Continued on PAGE 8

CONNECTICUT
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