By Tom Gilchrist | The Saginaw News
BAY CITY — Attorneys for former Saginaw Police Department officer Patrick C. Shaltry said a U.S. District Court jury awarded $750,000 to Shaltry on Friday for “mental anguish” he suffered due to discrimination against him by the department.
Saginaw lawyer Victor J. Mastromarco Jr. said the jury returned the verdict late Friday afternoon. Jurors “found the city retaliated against (Shaltry) for reporting what he believed was sexual harassment by his supervisor,” Mastromarco said.
Shaltry, 42, of Tittabawassee Township, alleges his supervisor, Sgt. Anjanette “A.J.” Tuer — head of internal affairs — sexually harassed him and “commenced a campaign of retaliation” leading to his dismissal.
John A. Decker and E. Louis Ognisanti, two of three Saginaw Township attorneys representing the city of Saginaw, could not be reached for comment by The News.
According to court documents, the jury didn’t find that Tuer sexually harassed Shaltry. Jurors, however, ruled the city unlawfully fired Shaltry in retaliation for alleging sexual harassment by Tuer.
The jury awarded the $750,000 as damages for “embarassment, humiliation, mental and emotional distress and anguish (Shaltry) experienced as a consequence” of his alleged discrimination against him, according to court documents.
Shaltry, who joined the department in 1996, claims he was wrongfully fired in 2008. His lawsuit claims he “rebuffed” Tuer’s sexual advances and she subjected him to “pervasive harassment and retaliation.”
The lawsuit named Tuer; Ralph Carter, the city’s labor relations administrator; Thomas H. Fancher, the city attorney; and Police Chief Gerald H. Cliff. All four individuals were dismissed as defendants prior to the trial before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington.
The jury began deliberations on Thursday afternoon.
In court documents, Tuer denies making any sexual advances toward Shaltry, and city and police officials deny that Shaltry reported any claim of sexual harassment.
Shaltry was fired for “numerous violations of the terms and conditions of his employment,” according to court documents filed on the city’s behalf.
His lawsuit sought back pay, lost future pay, bonuses, sick pay, vacation pay, and fringe benefits, though the jury’s award wasn’t for any of those reasons, but for “non-economic” damages, according to Mastromarco.
“On top of the verdict, the judge will be able to assess attorney fees, which will be added to the jury’s award,” Mastromarco said.
Mastromarco said the cost for attorney fees “will be substantial” but noted he hasn’t calculated that cost yet.
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