The former manager of Jackson State Universityโs TV 23, Judith Meredith, is suing Jackson State University and JSU Communications Director Anthony Dean in U.S. District Court Federal for $3 million, plus attorneysโ fees and court costs.
Meredithโs attorney, Evelyn Tatum Portie, says Dean and JSU engaged in a pattern of sexual and age discrimination that โwas intentional and exceeded all bounds of decency.โ
The complaint states that Dean made derogatory remarks toward and about Meredith, sometimes calling her a โRedboneิreferring to her light complexionโin the presence of others. The suit alleges that Dean began a successful effort to remove Meredith, the wife of civil-rights activist James Meredith, from her position and replace her with TV 23โs new production manager, Keith Collins, a younger employee with only a high school degree and no general management qualifications.
Meredith, 60, claims Dean orchestrated her removal, after 13 years of service and continuous successful grant management, into an undefined job at the office of communications. For months, Meredith was essentially a floating employee with no position or place to work, but plenty of humiliation, she says. Meredith claims she had to either wait in her vehicle or outside the building while her office โwas used by Collins, Dean and others.โ
The suit, which represents only one side of a legal argument, claims Dean misused the universityโs performance-evaluation process to remove not only Meredith, but other experienced employees, replacing them with under-qualified, younger employees who were willing to work for less money.
โFollowing Deanโs arrival at JSU, several talented and highly skilled women under the departmental umbrella of the Office of Communications were replaced by younger women at a pay level less than that of a male counterpart and often without the title previously held by the person replaced,โ the suit claims.
The suit also claims Dean created a hostile working environment for Meredith in retaliation for her complaints about his conduct to university staff, and that his constant castigation drove Meredith into a state of emotional stress that forced her โto seek medical assistance.โ
The complaint lists the university as a co-defendant because JSU President Ronald Mason Jr. allegedly made no move to intervene. โI let even let him know that there had been threats made by Mr. Dean that if anyone should go to H.R. or above his head, it was like digging their own grave,โ Meredith said.
The university, the court filing states, aided Deanโs discriminatory practices by allowing Meredith to be transferred while taking no action against Dean, counter to the recommendations of an April 2008 University Grievance Committee hearing.
The committee found that Meredith had been the victim of harassment and retaliation and recommended that Dean be demoted and that Collins receive management training. It also recommended Meredith not work with or under either Dean or Collins.
The suit complains that Deanโs retaliation has continued since the grievance hearing and โhas even expanded to those who gave testimony for Meredithโ at the hearing.
โIโm doing this for the witnesses who had the courage to tell the truth about what was happening,โ Meredith said. โThere was retaliation against them, and it continues.โ
The suit does not list any co-plaintiffs lodging complaints against Deanโs behavior, although this is not the first suit claiming Dean to be a vengeful boss. Dean was central to a 2007 sexual-harassment suit filed by former office manager Kushauntia Jones. That case, initially filed in Hinds County Circuit Court, claims Dean made a series of unwanted sexual advances over the course of several months in 2005.
Jones became officer manager/executive assistant in the communications department in September 2005, directly under Dean. Jones claims Dean immediately began scheduling unnecessary private meetings with her. He told her that he was attracted to her and grabbed her underwear as she was bent over filing documents, Jones said, and later exposed himself to her and tried to pull her head toward his groin.
Dean, according to the suit, became โopenly hostileโ to Jones after she reported his behavior to university authorities in early 2006. Unlike the grievance committee investigation of the Meredith matter, the university grievance committee on the Jones complaint ruled โthere was no evidence to substantiate her allegations of sexual harassment,โ according to the suit. Jackson State University General Counsel Regina Quinn said that Jones and the university โamicably resolved the matter.โ
Dean did not return calls to the Jackson Free Press. JSUโs Public Relations Office refused comment on either suit. Quinn told the JFP that the university โdoes not comment on pending litigation.
Previous Comments
Yeap thats JSU we are qucik to call three on yourside or 16’s who’s accountable. If these allegations are true than he needs to be fired and JSU should be held accountable for their inaction, but as a student of JSU im tired of my school getting exploited by the local media. The media is always trying to portray Jackson State’s faculty as Incompetent and the school as dangerous and in disarray. Im not taking anything from ms merediths claims, but until the facts come out i wont know what went on but i just love how the clarionledger runs on campus when they feel they has some damaging Juice on JSU.
#148598 | Author: NewJackson | Date: Jun 10 2009
Kudos to the Jackson Advocate. I read about this lawsuit in their paper a week and a half ago.
#148603 | Author: eyerah | Date: Jun 10 2009
Yes, Meredith’s attorney sent a press release out. I assume a variety of media got it.
#148604 | Author: DonnaLadd | Date: Jun 10 2009
Wow, I wonder will this story make into the Blue and White Flash, seeing how the story in 2007 was pulled. If students get in trouble, it is okay for the school newspaper to report on it but not faculty. I don’t think the Supreme court likes that either.
#148619 | Author: Hellzfury | Date: Jun 11 2009
Ok,PEOPLE,enough already, with SELF- INFLICTED DENIAL – first and foremost, you have to take “SELF-MOTIVE OUT” Yes this is, TRUE, concerning, Judy Alsobrooks Meredith – PLEASE I want “US” all to just get real. I have finally chosen to share my -FACTS- and I can assure you all, that this is not just about – Judy Alsobrooks Meredith. Yet, it is about what has happen to her. PLEASE NOTE: that there were many – who didnot know that her last name was “MEREDITH”. nor did they know that she is the wife of, James Meredith, This should say to all that it was not her name that assisted her in her professional career, God was she wise, she stood tall, proclaiming her own identity, with acheivements that will make you just swallow. She is a FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR, that choose to work at, Jackson State University, when I can assure you that she could have gone to any other UNIVERSITY, throughout the WORLD. Yet, WE were afforded her, here. I see, Judy Alsobrooks Meredith, lawsuit, as, one of God’s many plan – to STOP ALL OF THE INJUSTICE, BEHIND THE PHRASE, “WORK AT WIll”. People I love the State Of Mississippi” yet we all continues to displays – the foundation of ignorance. Yet, we all want to correct children for not telling the TRUTH – when in fact – WE as adults continue to – LIE. Judy Alsobrooks “MEREDITH” – lawsuit is for us all that has been wronged by, PEOPLE, that seek to control others, due to there insecure nature – both men and women, alike – the woman has taken part in this SCAM – to destroy her, because, of there “WANT BE NATURE”, and the coverup is massive. There are so many VICTIMS – and finally, God has allowed someone to standup, and say no more. the lawsuit is not large enough, for what has happen, and we all must agree, without motive that this has been ongoing for years. I want this suit to be paid without fore -thought, and all of the “FACTS” REVEALED. Because of the future generations to come, We have our own daughters, and sons – THIS COULD BE ONE OF THEM. NO, NO, NO, – Ronald Mason, didnot intervene, and YES, he allowed, this to happen, based on many factors- one ignorance, and overall – SELF GREED, AND POWER. Define Empathy – My people – All people, and I can assure you, that your comments will,be very limited.
#148624 | Author: msgeisha0812 | Date: Jun 11 2009
(jaw dropping) WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
#148689 | Author: Queen601 | Date: Jun 12 2009