The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has found that an Ohio University Police Department officer's claims of sexual discrimination and gender discrimination against OUPD are unsubstantiated, according to a report issued by the commission.
The report said despite the commission's decision to dismiss Officer Suzette Hall's complaint, Hall now has the right to bring a civil suit against the university on her own.
In addition, Hall also has the right to request reconsideration of the matter by the OCRC if she thinks she can provide additional evidence to substantiate her allegations, according to the report.
The report is a result of an investigation by the OCRC - the administrative agency in Ohio that handles discrimination cases within public, and occasionally private, agencies - that stemmed from a November 2004 grievance filed by Hall.
In the grievance, Hall said she experienced unfair treatment from male officers Lt. Stephen Noftz and Lt. Rich Russell and was unfairly subjected to an internal investigation ordered by Chief Tony Camechis based on her gender.
The OCRC did not find evidence to substantiate Hall's complaints against Noftz and Russell. Also, the OCRC found that the internal investigation of Hall was in no way related to her gender, according to the report.
Along with filing a complaint with the OCRC, Hall filed a grievance against OU with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a commission within the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division that investigates on-the-job discrimination complaints.
The EEOC remanded the investigation to the OCRC because the state agency already was investigating the matter, said Nicolette Dioguardi, OU's assistant director of Legal Affairs.
However, on Sept. 29, the EEOC sent Hall what Dioguardi called a right-to-sue letter that stated that although the EEOC did not file a suit against OU on Hall's behalf, it did not make a judgment as to whether Hall's complaints are meritorious.
The letter also stated Hall now has the opportunity to enact a civil lawsuit against the university within 90 days.
Those who file complaints with state or federal governments must wait until the investigations are completed before they can decide to take civil action, regardless of the investigations' outcomes, Dioguardi said.(The OCRC and EOC) are saying that we're not going to do any more with it
Dioguardi said about the complaint.
Dioguardi also said she was unaware that Hall had filed a complaint at the federal level, and she did not know if Hall plans on filing a civil suit against the university.
Hall could not be reached for comment. 17
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Report cites lack of evidence in OUPD discrimination case
