Trial News

Jeffrey Larson was a senior executive warden for the Michigan Department of Corrections. He asked his direct supervisor, Michael Curley, and Curley’s supervisors to promote a female subordinate on multiple occasions. Curley asserted that the only reason Larson was suggesting the promotion was because he was having a relationship with the woman. The woman subsequently accused Curley of sexually assaulting her during a work outing and filed a formal complaint with the department’s equal employment opportunity department, naming Larson as a witness.

Early the following year, Larson was demoted to resident unit manager at a corrections facility more than two hours away. He remained in that position until his retirement approximately two years later, incurring $43,000 in lost annual earnings and $85,000 in lost pension benefits.

Larson sued the Michigan Department of Corrections, alleging retaliation. The plaintiff claimed that his repeated requests for his colleague’s promotion led senior management to urge his demotion and that the defendant had a pattern and practice of retaliation. The plaintiff also alleged that after his demotion, his new warden berated him repeatedly and thwarted his performance of his job duties, including preventing him from accessing prison records.

The jury awarded more than $705,400, including costs, interest, and attorney fees.

Citation: Larson v. Michigan Dep’t of Corr., No. 15-000454-CD (Mich. Cir. Ct. Ingham Cnty. July 24, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: James Fett, Pinckney, Mich.