Employment Law: Madera DA faces Retaliation, Discrimination and Harassment Raps

August 11, 2010

Fresno – Two female employees of Madera County have filed retaliation, discrimination and harassment lawsuits against the County and District Attorney Michael Keitz in a federal district court, reports said.

The lawsuit was filed by Karen Mitchell, the County’s former supervising district attorney and by Toni Lindsey, a legal secretary.

Mitchell alleged that she was forced into retirement by Keitz, who was later picked by the Board of Supervisors. Both Mitchell and Keitz vied to replace outgoing District Attorney LiCalsi in 2008.

Mitchell further claimed she was removed of her “supervisorial responsibilities and reassigned from homicides and other major crimes to welfare fraud”. She also claimed that Keitz moved her from the main District Attorney's Office to an annex building.

Last October, both Mitchell and Lindsey supported another candidate for district attorney who was a Keitz challenger.

According to Mitchell, she was denied promotion after that. When she underwent an Achilles tendon transplant in March, she was not allowed to return and she was not permitted to receive her disability insurance payments. She was then forced into retirement.

Keitz did not comment on the lawsuits.