A female jailer is suing the county and sheriff on claims she was fired because she complained about racial discrimination.
April Swan filed a lawsuit June 3 in the Jefferson County District Court against Jefferson County and Sheriff Mitch Woods, citing retaliatory termination, false accusations and discrimination.
The lawsuit states Swan, a white female, was employed as a correctional officer from June 24, 2009, through July 20, 2010, and again from Feb. 6, 2012, through March 24, 2012.
She reported to the Internal Affairs Division of the sheriff’s department her supervisor, who is a black female, was subjecting her to discriminatory and retaliatory conduct, according to the complaint.
The complaint states the IA deputy, a friend of the supervisor, then sought to discredit Swan and terminate her employment. Charges were made that Swan had an inappropriate relationship with a male inmate, which Swan denies, the complaint states.
Swan was prosecuted by the IA deputy and the sheriff, suspended from duty and was placed on leave on March 13, 2014. She was fired March 24, and appealed her case, but was denied relief, according to the lawsuit.
Swan is seeking damages in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits for compensatory, punitive damages, court costs, pre and post-judgment interest and for the court to also enter an order revoking any license enabling the county and sheriff to operate in Texas and revoking any certificate to do business in Texas if a judgment is not satisfied within three months of filing a final judgment.
She is being represented by Larry Watts of Watts & Co. Lawyers Ltd. of Missouri City.
Jefferson County District Court Case No. D195-767
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.