SEATTLE — A federal court jury Monday awarded nearly $350,000 to a former Lynnwood police officer who claimed she was discriminated against because of her gender, and then retaliated against when she complained.
Cynthia Caterson told jurors she was assigned to a detective position in June 2000, but she consistently received “less favorable assignments” than her male counterparts within the detective division. She was fired from the department in December, and the verdict makes it “nearly certain” that she will be reinstated, said Judith Lonnquist, her Seattle lawyer.
Lynnwood’s attorney, Robert Christie of Seattle, was surprised by the verdict.
“It’s difficult to understand, candidly,” Christie said. “This is a highly professional department that tries hard to do the right thing across the board.”
Caterson approached then- detective Sgt. Steve Rider on March 29, 2002, complaining about different treatment on assignments and training because of her gender.
Caterson alleged that Rider began to retaliate against her almost immediately because of the complaint.
For example, Rider issued a warning to her on April 1, 2002, and wrote a memorandum saying Caterson was a “detriment to the morale” of the detective division, according to court documents.
In May of that year, Rider removed her from her detective position and reassigned her as a patrol officer “where she earned less both in terms of salary and overtime,” she alleged.
After reassignment, Caterson alleged she continued to be “subjected to unfavorable actions by defendant Rider and others in management.” That included less desirable shift assignments, being closely scrutinized by management and receiving a “performance deficiency notice,” documents said.
The trial lasted two weeks, and the jury deliberated nearly a full day before finding that Caterson had been discriminated against and Rider retaliated after she complained. It said that the city violated Caterson’s constitutional rights.
The jury awarded her $22,000 in economic damage for lost wages, $300,000 for emotional distress plus $25,000 in punitive damages against Rider.
Lonnquist, of Seattle, said she will return to court within a month seeking additional sums for attorney fees and money to offset federal taxes Caterson would have to pay for a lump-sum award.
“I think they singled her out for the most egregious kind of abuse simply because she raised an issue about discrimination,” Lonnquist said.
Christie maintained at trial that the department didn’t discriminate against Caterson, and anything negative that happened to her was based on performance.
“These cases are difficult cases and this verdict says that,” Christie said. “We felt we had a compelling story of even-handedness, and in some cases more favorable treatment towards her.”
Jim Haley, a reporter for the Herald, can be reached at 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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