A sexual discrimination lawsuit filed by Oktibbeha County Emergency Management Deputy Director Kristen Campanella alleges the past board of supervisors did not hire her to lead the department because she is a woman.
The civil complaint, filed in federal court July 7 by Tupelo-based attorney Jim Waide, alleges former OCEMA Director Jim Britt “entertains prejudice against females” and swayed the board to hire Oktibbeha County Constable Shank Phelps to succeed him when he retired last year.
Citing lost income, mental anxiety and stress, her lawsuit requests a jury determine actual damages and requests attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses.
Oktibbeha County is cited as the lawsuit’s defendant, not Britt or Phelps.
Waide declined to comment on the details of the claims outside of what the complaint stated. He said the matter could take one or two years to reach a conclusion.
“Because of his animosity toward females,” the lawsuit reads, Britt allegedly misrepresented to supervisors last year that Campanella was not interested in taking over his position.
Since “some members of the board wanted a male for the position,” the lawsuit alleges, Phelps was hired even though he “lacked even the most basic qualifications for the position.”
“While (Phelps) was an excellent law enforcement officer, he lacked even the basic knowledge to operate the EMA/E911 system, but relies upon (Campanella) to show him how to do the job of director,” the complaint reads.
A June 2015 filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission attached to the complaint alleges Britt “made disparaging remarks critical of” and sexual advances and comments toward female employees.
No evidence is presented in the letter of the lawsuit to support these claims besides Campanella’s statement. Such evidence is usually presented and disclosed through a discovery period associated with a case.
“When I learned that Britt had told the board that I was not interested in the position, I filed a formal application. Even then, Britt made statements to the board indicating that I did not want the position and also made false statements to them that I had limited job duties,” the filing reads. “In fact, I was the only person qualified for the job, and I have superior qualifications. All of the deputy sheriff’s experience has been in law enforcement, and I if I remain employed, I will have to train him on everything so he can learn his job.”
Campanella received a right-to-sue letter from the U.S. Department of Justice on April 20, which gave her attorney a 90-day window to move forward with litigation.
The letter, it reads, “should not be taken to mean that the Department of Justice has made a judgment as to whether or not your case is meritorious.”
Britt and Phelps declined to comment on the lawsuit because of the nature of the ongoing litigation. Both were unaware of the lawsuit when they were contacted by The Dispatch.
District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery, District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer, District 3 Supervisor Marvell Howard and District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams also declined to comment on the matter. Again, all four supervisors were unaware of the litigation when contacted.
In April 2015, Britt announced he would step down from his post later that summer. Britt led the county’s emergency management agency since the early 2000s.
Howard, Montgomery, Williams and former District 4 Supervisor Daniel Jackson voted to hire Phelps one month later. He was chosen over Campanella and Oktibbeha County deputy Todd Salmon. Only Trainer opposed the motion.
Campanella filed her EEOC complaint one month after Phelps was hired.
Phelps has served Oktibbeha County in various capacities for more than two decades, including a stint with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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