Court employee sues county over promotion

1/26/2011

An employee of the Lucas County Common Pleas Court filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the county after being denied the opportunity to apply for a promotion.

Gerrilynn Hatzidakis filed the complaint Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Toledo against Lucas County Common Pleas Court. The case was assigned to Judge James Carr.

Ms. Hatzidakis, who works as administrative manager, claimed in the sex discrimination complaint that she applied for the position of director of court deputies in September, 2009, but was denied an interview because she was told she did not meet the qualifications of being Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy-certified.

According to the complaint, the certification was a requirement for applying and receiving the position and that other than the certification, Ms. Hatzidakis was qualified for the job.

“The position of director of court deputies was given to an outside male candidate, … who was not OPOTA certified and had no prior court experience at the time he applied for the position or when he was interviewed,” the complaint said.

Included in the complaint was a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, that indicated Ms. Hatzidakis has “the right to institute a civil action” against the court.