Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton and executive staff with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) have been named as defendants in a civil complaint filed July …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you had an active account on our previous website, then you have an account here. Simply reset your password to regain access to your account.
If you did not have an account on our previous website, but are a current print subscriber, click here to set up your website account.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
* Having trouble? Call our circulation department at 360-385-2900, or email our support.
Please log in to continue |
|
Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton and executive staff with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) have been named as defendants in a civil complaint filed July 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Michelle Oliver is listed as the plaintiff.
In addition to Brotherton, the complaint names Cherish Cronmiller, OlyCAP executive director, Rodney Miller, director of OlyCAP, and Richard Fitzgerald, manager of the Quilcene Food Bank.
The new executive director of OlyCAP, Holly Morgan, said the lawsuit was with the legal team for review.
The complaint is linked to a series of events in 2022 in which Oliver alleges bullying and intimidation after Oliver and her husband, John DiMaggio — who appears unnamed in the documents — urged a deeper review of OlyCAP’s management of the Quilcene Community Center.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that OlyCAP “had made ‘profits’ from operating three Centers (Quilcene, Brinnon and Tri-Area) and kept the profits.” In addition, the complaint alleges that OlyCAP paid a part-time employee health insurance for 16 years, when insurance benefits were only available to full-time employees. The complaint alleges the financial loss at about $200,000.
The complaint alleges that Brotherton, Cronmiller, Fitzgerald and Miller then engaged in bullying, intimidation and marginalization in an effort to push Oliver and DiMaggio away from community center and OlyCAP scrutiny, involvement and operations. The complaint alleges that the defendants’ efforts caused Oliver fear and emotional distress.
The complaint lists three counts against all the defendants: intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and slander. Two counts name only OlyCAP and the Quilcene Community Center. Those counts include violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and discrimination based upon origin, race and sex. One count, breach of contract, names only OlyCAP. The final count of assault, names Fitzgerald.
In the count of assault, the complaint states that the “Plaintiff’s apprehension of imminent physical violence was caused by the Defendant’s action or threat.”
The complaint demands a jury trial.
Leader staff was not able to reach Brotherton, Cronmiller or Miller for comment by press time.
