Investigator: Missoulian didn’t discriminate against editor

HELENA – An investigator with the Montana Human Rights Bureau says there is no reason to believe that Lee Enterprises discriminated against former Missoulian editor Sherry Devlin.

Devlin filed a complaint alleging that the company discriminated against her based on her age and sex by demoting her, reducing her pay and hiring a younger, less qualified man to replace her.

Investigator Dennis Unsworth says his investigation found publisher Mark Heintzelman set a high standard for the leadership style he wanted in the newsroom and that both he and Devlin determined she wasn’t suited to that style of leadership.

In February, Devlin filed a wrongful discharge lawsuit against Lee Enterprises, alleging her work conditions were so intolerable that she was forced to resign in November 2015. That case is still pending.