$488k verdict in workplace retaliation case
LANSING – A jury awarded a former state prison warden $488,000 in damages Wednesday after finding supervisors retaliated against him for defending a female subordinate who complained about sexual discrimination and harassment.
An eight-member Ingham County Circuit Court jury deliberated about seven hours over two days before returning a 6-2 verdict in favor of former Central Michigan Correctional Facility warden Jeff Larson.
Larson, who retired in 2017, took a $38,000 pay cut when he was demoted from warden to resident unit manager after a 2014 investigation.
Michigan Department of Corrections officials said Larson was demoted for failing to comply with all the terms of his court order after he was stopped for drunken driving, second offense, in 2013.
But James Fett, Larson’s attorney, argued Larson, who he said has abstained from alcohol since that 2013 arrest, was targeted because he defended and advocated for his administrative assistant, Larriann Ludwick.
Larson’s attorney, James Fett, said the verdict is a win for those asserting their rights:
I think the message has got to go out that corrections needs to do something to make sure people feel comfortable coming forward with a complaint of discrimination or harassment.
This case was featured in the Detroit Free Press and many others. You can read the full story at Jury awards $488K to former Michigan prison warden (freep.com)