Discrimination alleged in prosecutor’s office
Bolton’s claim lists 23 incidents of allegedly unfair or
dishonest treatment of her.
By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer
A Blaine County deputy prosecuting attorney has filed a claim against the
county alleging poor treatment in her job by county Prosecuting Attorney Doug Werth.
The allegation by deputy prosecutor Jill Bolton—included in a tort
claim—also raises questions about general personnel management at the office.
Werth was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Bolton, 31, filed the claim with the Blaine County clerk on March 27.
Under Idaho law, a government entity has 90 days to act on a claim for liability against
it before the claim can be filed in court.
The claim was filed six days after Bolton filed a claim with the federal
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging violation by the Blaine County
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office of Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act on grounds
of sex discrimination.
Bolton’s claim lists 23 incidents of allegedly unfair or dishonest
treatment of her.
She alleges that Werth broke promises he made when he hired her and has
favored other employees at her expense. She claims she has been relegated to prosecuting
juvenile and misdemeanor cases when she should have been promoted to prosecuting felonies
and handling civil matters.
Bolton also contends that her salary has not been increased at the same
level as have the salaries of male attorneys in the office.
Bolton alleges that Werth acted maliciously, and that his acts have
inflicted emotional distress upon her. She claims she has suffered several medical
conditions as a result.
The county has hired a Boise attorney specializing in employment law to
handle Bolton’s claim.
"We contest all the claims and believe that once her claims are
resolved they will prove to be unfounded," said the county’s attorney, Candy
Dale.
Dale described the alleged incidents of poor treatment set forth in
Bolton’s claim as "either inaccurate descriptions or there’s an inaccurate
gloss put on them."
Bolton’s claim states that she informed the county commissioners in
August that Werth’s alleged "violations of county policy and his abuse of
employees" had prompted many employees to resign, requiring the county to spend money
training their replacements. The claim contends that Werth’s alleged mistreatment of
her has been, in part, to retaliate for that communication with the commissioners.
Her claims add up to $444,000 plus an unspecified amount in lost wages.
Bolton’s attorney, Cynthia Woolley, said she has placed calls to the
county but has received no response.
"I’m hopeful that we can have a response and it won’t have
to go any further," Woolley said.
"We’re hopeful that by bringing this notice and the charge with
the EEOC, Jill will not have to file a lawsuit, and the county will pay attention and
bring the prosecuting attorney’s office into compliance with law and county
policy."
However, that doesn’t appear likely.
Dale, the county attorney, said that because she sees no merit to the
claim, she does not plan to make any formal response on the part of the county.
Werth has not filed for re-election and has announced plans to leave
office at the end of the year.
