4 days ago
Cass County officers called woman ‘meemaw,' made fun of age, lawsuit claims
A Missouri woman is suing Cass County after she was fired from the Sheriff's Office, where she allegedly endured harassment and discrimination from male coworkers, according to a Cass County court document.
Melissa Manford is suing on counts of discrimination based on sex/gender, age, disability, hostile work environment and two counts of retaliation, according to court documents.
Manford is also suing based on a violation of Missouri revised statute 590.502, which states that officers are allowed to have an attorney present during meetings that they believe may lead to 'disciplinary action, demotion, dismissal, transfer, or placement on a status that could lead to economic loss,' according to the lawsuit.
Manford had been working for the sheriff's office since 2005, according to court documents. While the lawsuit doesn't name the agency directly, a Facebook post from the sheriff's department lists Manford's 2020 promotion to sergeant.
Accusations against male officers include one allegedly 'forbidding' Manford to become pregnant, another repeatedly touching Manford's hair despite her asking him him to stop, and a coworker telling other employees that Manford 'doesn't belong in her position,' despite Manford being his supervisor.
The lawsuit describes one instance in which Manford was working in her office and a coworker handed her a notebook, according to the lawsuit.
The coworker told Manford that he and other coworkers made the notebook 'just for her,' according to court documents. The officer told Manford they had attached a pen to the notebook because she was 'forgetful.'
Additionally, he said the notebook had large print so Manford could see with her 'old eyes,' and the front cover read 'GERIATRIC EDITION,' according to the lawsuit.
When Manford reported the incident, a supervisor allegedly laughed at her and did not report the behavior to human resources, the lawsuit claims.
On another occasion, Manford's male coworkers gave her a 'gift' of a denture cup and denture cream, the lawsuit alleges. As the men gave Manford the items, they allegedly said, 'Don't forget to clean your dentures.'
When Manford reported the incident to a different supervisor, it was dismissed as the coworkers 'playing around,' according to the lawsuit.
Coworkers also allegedly repeatedly implied that Manford had dementia and called her 'meemaw,' as well as trying to scare her, court documents state.
Manford, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, claims these conditions were exacerbated by the attempts to scare her, court documents state.
In one instance, a coworker jumped out at her as she exited the locker room and Manford, 'acting in self-defense, reflexively slapped' the coworker, court documents allege.
Manford was reprimanded for the incident; a male coworker who had done something similar a month before faced no repercussions, according to court documents.
Later, Manford documented that several of her male coworkers had violated the dress code, according to court documents. The coworker who had previously attempted to scare Manford filed a complaint 'in retaliation.'
Following the complaint, Manford's coworkers allegedly made comments to her that they were 'going to replace' her, according to court documents.
Manford was eventually moved to the night shift and received what court documents refer to as a 'demotion.'
She was fired without warning in July, according to court documents.
In a phone call to the Star, The Cass County Sheriff's Office said it 'doesn't discuss pending litigation.'
