SEXUAL HARASSMENT &

WRONGFUL TERMINATION
COUNSELORS

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chris Kelley Paige Dawson
chris@mpdventures.com paige@mpdventures.com
214.457.5266 214.744.6188

CLIENT STATEMENT – JANUARY 12, 2018

Statement from Dallas County Health & Human Services Department Employee
Regarding Allegations Against Dallas County and Zachary Thompson
(January 12, 2018 – DALLAS, TX) – Based on continuing media inquiries to our office, and with
permission from our client, we are sharing her story. Given the sensitive nature of this
situation, she has asked to remain anonymous. Any questions or interview requests may be
directed to Jennifer Spencer, managing partner, Spencer Scott Law Firm.

Zachary Thompson’s pattern of coerced sexual abuse, harassment, and intimidation began in 2013.
I endured the abuse because I was fearful of losing my job if I refused his approaches; he had made
it clear on multiple occasions with comments such as “you do like your job, right?” and “where do
you think you’ll go where you can make as much money as you make here?” and “I’m your boss.” I
became depressed and, on a few dark days, suicidal. I sought the services of a mental health
counselor, had periods where it was hard to sleep or eat, and cried on my way to work on many
occasions. I needed my job, and I loved the work itself.

I said no and stop many times and cried during some of the coerced sex acts. In 2015, the sexual
encounters finally stopped. While thankful, I can only guess as to the reasons: I began intentionally
avoiding him, especially at the end of the day; making excuses as to why I couldn’t work in evenings;
ensuring to walk with other colleagues to the parking lot; and not working late when his car was
there. Plus in 2015-2016, HHS faced a high profile lawsuit that took his attention and angered him.

When the encounters ended, he initiated a series of retaliatory actions over the next two years,
including changing my job title, my work hours, and even my parking location. He was increasingly
verbally critical and curt. He filed six written grievances related to my job performance this past
year, severely increasing my fear and anxiety over losing my job. I got the courage to stand up and
tried to file an initial reply grievance on August 7th, 2017, only to be told by HR that I was too late
and missed a seven-day response deadline, even though I was out of state for a family funeral.

After the next grievance he filed, I finally had enough and made the decision to file a grievance
against Mr. Thompson on December 5th, 2017, detailing the pattern and practice of sexual abuse,
harassment, intimidation, and retaliation he perpetrated against me over the past four years.
Litigation & Employment Counselors. www.SpencerScottLaw.com
Dallas, Texas 972-458-5301 1 www.SexualHarassmentLawyers.net
 SEXUAL HARASSMENT &
WRONGFUL TERMINATION
COUNSELORS

After receipt of the allegations, the Dallas County HR Department callously and ineptly mishandled
my grievance against Mr. Thompson. When reading my initial complaint, HR informed me that an
additional form was required and asked if I wanted to come back after completing it. Not wanting
to miss any deadline, I insisted on completing it then and there. When I presented the proper
forms, HR began this sensitive conversation with the door open; I had to close the door myself. The
HR analyst said that this matter needed to be addressed by Mr. Urmit Graham, the Interim Director
of Human Resources.

Mr. Graham never asked to meet with me in person. He called me on my cell phone on the way
home from work and re-violated my dignity by asking me a series of inappropriate and boundary-
violating questions that attempted to blame me and not the perpetrator, my supervisor, Mr.
Thompson, for the allegations made in the grievance. While sitting in my car, in a parking lot, over
the phone, Mr. Graham had me describe the details of the sexual encounters with Mr. Thompson.
He asked if my grievance was in retaliation for the write ups and, “Is it just that you like men in
power?” He said that they often make people take polygraph tests in cases such as this. I told him
that I’d happily take such a test. While he asked if I wanted to report to somebody else, he then
asked if I could just “hold out” for another month or two until Mr. Thompson retires. I told him I
wanted to report to somebody else. I heard nothing back from HR until December 12th, 2017, when
they called to ensure I was keeping my work performance up as Mr. Thompson planned to submit
another write up for some unknown reason.

Just before the Christmas holiday on December 18th, 2017, the HR Department told me they were
removing the write ups but that I needed to dismiss my grievance against Mr. Thompson. Because
the County had not addressed all of my concerns – I was still having to report to Mr. Thompson – I
could not dismiss my grievance. HR continued to pressure me to sign the dismissal over the next
several days. At that time I obtained legal counsel to represent me and confront the inadequate
policies and practices of Dallas County’s HR Department related to the handling of sexual abuse and
harassment claims from employees. Only after I obtained legal counsel did Dallas County enact its
first step toward remedy with the termination of Mr. Thompson in January.

I hope in sharing my story, I will encourage other women and men who have suffered similar
circumstances to be brave, step forward and not be discouraged. No employee should be made to
endure a hostile work environment or the mental anguish and fear of harassment and retaliation.

I ask that the media protect my privacy and that of my family and colleagues by not disclosing my
name. I’ve anguished over even sharing this much detail with the public, but I know the real story
must be told as scary and painful as it is.

Litigation & Employment Counselors. www.SpencerScottLaw.com

Dallas, Texas 972-458-5301 2 www.SexualHarassmentLawyers.net
 SEXUAL HARASSMENT &
WRONGFUL TERMINATION
COUNSELORS

ORIGINAL ATTORNEY STATEMENT – JANUARY 5, 2018

Statement Regarding Allegations Against Dallas County’s Health & Human

Services Department and Zachary Thompson

By Jennifer Spencer, managing partner, Spencer Scott Law Firm

(January 5, 2018 – DALLAS, TX) – The Spencer Scott Law Firm is representing a Dallas County
employee alleging sexual harassment by Zachary Thompson. Our client has alleged a pattern
and practice of sexual abuse, harassment, intimidation, and retaliation by Mr. Thompson. After
receipt of the allegations, Dallas County officials failed to take adequate steps to rectify the
situation and protect the victim.

We look forward to working with Dallas County officials to ensure safety, closure, and justice
for this employee and to ensure additional employees do not fall victim to the same
harassment our client experienced.

The termination of Mr. Thompson this week is a step forward for our client and a sign as to the
serious nature and validity of her claim. She is eager to work in an environment without the
constant mental anguish and fear of when the next instance of harassment or retaliation might
occur.

To protect her privacy and that of her family and colleagues, our client will remain unnamed
and will not participate in press interviews. At this time and in the interest of a swift resolution,
we will not share additional details regarding the situation and ask members of the public and
media to respect this decision.

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Litigation & Employment Counselors. www.SpencerScottLaw.com

Dallas, Texas 972-458-5301 3 www.SexualHarassmentLawyers.net