Case was settled for nearly $800,000.00

Plaintiff, a 50 year old, Caucasian female, was sexually harassed by her supervisor, Barrett Green, African American President of the Washington State Employees Union. Twenty women testified that they too had been sexually harassed for over two decades. Corrective action had not been taken by WSH officials and the State.

CEO of Western State Hospital, was fired along with Barrett Green. Many state employees who were retired were fearful of retaliation being taken against their relatives who were current employees and initially were afraid to testify. Several other lawsuits followed with similar results as a result of the courage of Lizee. The retaliation was systemic up through the supervisor that the CEO reported to who was in collusion with an Union Representative. Lizee was stripped of her duties, placed in a hallway without support staff and ridiculed.

The working environment was extremely hostile. Over 18 women who were in either in supervisory roles or under Barrett Green’s management or to whom he reported testified that they had continuously reported Barrett Green’s offensive behaviors during his various ascension to promotion opportunities to no avail for decades. Each time and well over a decade their complaints were arbitrarily dismissed and, in some instances, they were reprimanded or demoted for reporting his egregious behavior. The upper echelon and management supported Barrett Green, particularly when he became union president of the Washington State Employees. Plainitff’s home was ransacked and her cats were killed. Threats were made against witnesses and a key expert was later sued by Barrett Green. Eventually, all of his Intimidation by filing frivolous appeals were dismissed. The CEO who failed to appear at trial later resigned only to take a position at another state hospital.