Ex-DYS social worker files sexual harassment lawsuit

A former social worker in the Child Protection Unit of the Division of Youth Services has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in federal court against her then-supervisor.

The woman, who is presently residing in the state of Washington, is suing her then-supervisor with DYS, Julian R. Camacho, the CNMI government, and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ DYS.

Saipan Tribune opted to withhold the plaintiff’s identification for the meantime.

As of press time yesterday, Saipan Tribune was still trying to obtain comments from Camacho.

The plaintiff, through counsel Joseph E. Horey, is suing Camacho for violation of her civil rights, and the CNMI government and DYS for unlawful employment practices and violation of her civil rights. She demands a jury trial.

The woman is demanding damages, court costs, and attorney’s fees.

She asked the court to issue an order preventing the defendants from engaging in unlawful employment practices.

According to Horey in the complaint filed last Friday, plaintiff was employed by the Commonwealth as a social worker in the Child Protection Unit of DYS from December 2012 to May 2014.

Horey said Camacho, the plaintiff’s male supervisor in the CPU, repeatedly subjected her to verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature, including making sexual advances at her, over the course of several months.

“This conduct by the supervisor was unwelcome to plaintiff, and she refused and rebuffed his sexual advances,” the lawyer said.

Horey said plaintiff complained to the heads of DCCA and DYS about the supervisor’s conduct, but they failed to take adequate or effective action to protect her.

Horey said due to the failure of the agency heads to take adequate or effective action to protect plaintiff from such action, she resigned from her employment.

Plaintiff then filed a discrimination charge against the Commonwealth with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, relating to the conduct of Camacho.

Horey said the EEOC, after investigation, found that the evidence “was sufficient to establish a violation of Title VII” of the Civil Rights Act.

Horey said as a result of Camacho’s actions, plaintiff has been deprived of liberty and property without due process of law in violation of the CNMI Constitution.

He said the plaintiff has been denied the equal protection of the laws, has been denied the enjoyment of civil rights, has been discriminated against on account of sex, and that her right of individual privacy has been infringed.