Prosecutor Sued Over Dismissal Ex-Secretary Says She Was Fired Over Harassment Complaint
A former legal secretary in the Adams County prosecutor’s office is suing Prosecutor David Sandhaus, claiming he illegally fired her after she complained of sexual harassment.
Norma Tillotson contends she was fired because she filed a complaint under the county’s whistle-blower policy.
Sandhaus maintains he fired Tillotson because of poor work performance and because she walked off the job.
After hearing six hours of testimony Thursday, state Administrative Law Judge David Hansen said he would issue an opinion sometime after next week.
Sandhaus’ lawyer, Andrew Kottkamp, contended Tillotson and her lawyer, Dennis Morgan, brought the lawsuit to lay the groundwork for a possible effort to recall Sandhaus.
Morgan spearheaded a recall movement against Sandhaus, which Tillotson supports, Kottkamp noted.
Tillotson previously settled a claim with Adams County, but reserved the right to sue Sandhaus. She and Morgan requested that county commissioners ask Sandhaus to resign if the judge finds Tillotson was wrongfully fired.
Tillotson testified she was uncomfortable with what she considered inappropriate touching by Dennis DeFelice, a former Adams County deputy prosecutor and now Franklin County prosecutor.
Tillotson and other employees in the office testified that DeFelice had touched her several times on the arm and shoulder. Former deputy prosecutor Jo-Ellen Thomas testified she saw DeFelice stand near a seated Tillotson with “his zipper, like, two inches from her nose.”
Tillotson complained about the behavior to other employees and eventually wrote a memo to Sandhaus, saying she would file a complaint if nothing was done.
Sandhaus said he spoke to DeFelice after receiving the memo. The touching ended after that, Tillotson said.
Kottkamp noted the memo was sent just three days after Sandhaus had called Tillotson into his office to discuss concerns about her job performance.
He suggested she made the complaint because she feared she was going to be fired.
Sandhaus has appealed recall charges filed last August by three Adams County officials who alleged Sandhaus had failed to perform his duties, overspent his budget and neglected to obtain a required bond.
Asotin County Superior Judge John Lyden ruled in September that the charges were sufficient to justify a recall election. But a recall election was placed on hold when Sandhaus later notified the Supreme Court of his intent to appeal Lyden’s decision.
The high court is expected to issue a ruling by the end of February.
xxxx RECALL ON HOLD Asotin County Superior Judge John Lyden ruled in September that malfeasance charges, filed last August against Adams County Prosecutor David Sandhaus, were sufficient to justify a recall election. An election was placed on hold when Sandhaus later notified the Supreme Court of his intent to appeal Lyden’s decision.