SCRANTON – A gay female corrections officer at Lackawanna County Prison alleges that the institution unlawfully removed her from work, placed her on administrative leave and terminated her from her job.
Krista Purvis of Carbondale filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Dec. 1 versus Lackawanna County and Lackawanna County Prison, of Scranton.
“Plaintiff is a gay (homosexual) female. Plaintiff was employed with defendant for approximately five years in total, being originally hired in May of 2017, but she spent her last approximate two and a half years of employment working for defendant within the Lackawanna County Prison. Effective on Feb. 10, 2020, plaintiff was hired within the LCP as a Lieutenant,” the suit says.
“Plaintiff performed so well that she was elevated (and promoted) twice within her first year of employment. She was initially elevated to the position of Acting Captain, and then by August 2020, as Deputy Warden for Treatment. Plaintiff worked very hard to establish procedures, treatment processes, oversight, counseling and other programs within defendant. Plaintiff had many accomplishments – and from a performance standpoint – performed her job and role in a stellar manner.”
The suit adds that Warden Timothy Betti had exhibited and condoned gender bias throughout Purvis’s employment, including being responsible for rumors of the plaintiff pursuing a lesbian relationship with a co-worker, despite the fact that Purvis was and remains married, there was no evidence of such a relationship, and continuing to scrutinize, target and question her because she is a lesbian female.
Purvis took these discriminatory complaints and a litany of others to prison officials, but indicates that ultimately nothing substantive was done to correct and address them.
In March, Purvis alleges her termination was premeditated and executed due to her receiving a small package from an inmate’s wife, which contained a religious necklace with a crucifix and a wedding band.
A subsequent letter submitted to prison officials claimed that Purvis was showing favoritism to the inmate in question, bringing contraband into the prison, despite the fact that the necklace in question is not a contraband item and failing to cooperate with an investigation. The resulting hostility caused Purvis to take a sabbatical from her job through the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Purvis filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in May and participated in due process hearing following the end of the leave, on June 14. The suit says she was then terminated the following day, June 15.
“Plaintiff’s harms and damages are extraordinary. She grew up, worked in and loved the Lackawanna County area. She was a dedicated public servant who worked very hard. But following her termination from employment, there was massive news and online publicity casting her as some virtual criminal who showed favoritism to inmates, tried to obtain contraband and who abused her political ties within the municipality. Plaintiff has suffered irreparable harm to her career, reputation and image,” the suit states.
“In reality, defendant terminated a public servant who tried to, for nearly two months, correct institutional basis and discrimination for a completely absurd, made-up and nonsensical reason. The pre-textual rationale was so absurd, defendant had tried to compound the excuse with feigned claims that plaintiff wasn’t cooperative. Defendant never attempted to mitigate the public harm to plaintiff with the truth of what had occurred from January-February of 2022. Instead, defendant perpetuated negative publicity about and concerning plaintiff to justify its retaliation and to discourage plaintiff from seeking further legal redress.”
For counts of retaliation, discrimination and hostile work environment through violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the plaintiff is seeking the creation of a policy prohibiting such discrimination, compensatory professional damages, punitive damages, other equitable and legal relief as the Court deems just, proper and appropriate, costs, expenses, reasonable attorney’s fees and a jury trial.
The plaintiff is represented by Ari R. Karpf of Karpf Karpf & Cerutti, in Bensalem.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case 3:22-cv-01907
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com