|
|
Following a November 23 closed session, Cook County commissioners voted unanimously to accept a settlement with former Cook County Sheriff ’s deputy Julie Collman.
According to Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subdivision 3 (b), the commissioner’s meeting was closed by motion under attorney client privilege to discuss legal issues., legal advice and strategy.
Kendra Olson of Pemberton Law represented the county.
A sheriff ’s deputy, Collman, worked at the Cook County Law Enforcement for 16 years, leaving employment May 19, 2019. During her career in law enforcement, Julie served as the primary investigator of child protection and vulnerable adult cases as well as well as served as the counties’ primary investigator of sexual assault cases.
Collman filed a complaint against the county in September 2020, alleging Chief Deputy Will Sandstrom had targeted her because she was a female working in a mostly male department.
Following the disputes between the two that began in 2015 or 2016 and continued, in 2018 Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen recommended mediation, which both Collman and Sandstrom attended. The mediation ended with a plan requiring Sandstrom to initiate weekly one-on-one sessions with Julie. In her complaint, Collman alleges Sandstrom never moved forward with the plan.
Following the closed session, Board Chair David Mills noted that the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) covered $225,000 of the costs while the county will pay $125,000 of the settlement.
After the vote to accept the agreement, Mills said a few words, noting much of the commissioner’s time in the closed session was spent talking about minimizing the risk to the county.
“That’s one of the big takeaways I think for everyone to know,” Mills said.
This settlement added Mills, “seemed like an opportunity for the county to manage that risk and control it as best we could. I think it is in the organization and community’s best interest, this path forward.”
The move by the county board circumvented a court date of December 13.
When asked to comment, Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken released the following statement, “The Cook County Board on Tuesday authorized resolution of a claim of sexual discrimination by former employee Julie Collman. Cook County was represented by attorney Kendra Olson in the lawsuit, who recommended resolution as a better and more certain outcome than litigation of the claim. In exchange for release of claims against the county related to her former employment, Collman agreed to accept payment in the amount of $350,000. Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust contributed $225,000 toward the total settlement. During discussion of the motion to approve the agreement, commissioners referred to their preference to reduce risk and thereby serve the best interests of the county and the organization.”
Under terms of the settlement, Collman will be paid $152,916.69 in nonwage damages, delivered to her legal representative Sivertson & Barrette, P.A., by January 1, 2022.
Julie was also awarded $38,229.17. In addition, her attorney’s fees and costs were covered in the amount of $158,854.14.
The agreement is intended as a full, final, and complete release of all claims that Collman filed against the county.
Collman has fourteen days from signing the agreement to revoke the deal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA).
Part of the settlement states, “neither party admits and specifically denies any violation of any local, state, or federal law, common or statutory. The parties recognize that this agreement has been entered in order to achieve an orderly separation and nothing contained herein shall be an admission of liability or a concession of any kind.”
Leave a Reply