Tribal member sues over alleged workplace hostility, harassment

A Cherokee woman who successfully fought off disorderly conduct charges earlier this year has filed suit against nine parties in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians government, claiming that she’d been subjected to years of hostile working conditions and sexual harassment leading up to the criminal charge, which she said was based on a fabricated version of events.

Lori Taylor was hired by the EBCI Department of Justice at the age of 25 to be a victim and witness coordinator, keeping that position for 19 years and six months before she was fired on Aug. 1, 2017. According to the complaint, Taylor enjoyed a “rewarding, meaningful and fulfilling career” until Jason Smith was promoted to the tribal prosecutor’s position in 2011. Smith treated Taylor with hostility, the complaint said, and when Smith hired Justin Eason as a prosecutor, Eason took Smith’s lead.

https://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/25292-tribal-member-sues-over-alleged-workplace-hostility-harassment