Filed 18-CI-00245 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY 6 FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT DIVISION ______CASE NO. ______
BRAD METCALF PLAINTIFF
V.
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION DEFENDANT Room 300, Capitol Frankfort, KY 40601
SERVE certified mail: Sen. Robert Stivers, II, Kentucky Senate, President
Capitol, Rm. 236 1F9871B0-E7E8-43E9-A718-B77CE194A243 : 000001 of 00000 702 Capitol Ave. Frankfort, KY 40601 ) 648243 ( COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND
JURISDICTION
1. The Plaintiff, Brad Metcalf, brings this action against the Defendant, the Legislative
Research Commission (hereafter “LRC”), pursuant to KRS 61.102 and 61.103(2).
FACTS
2. Plaintiff, was, at all times mentioned herein, an employee of the LRC, an arm of the General e: HON. THOMAS DAWSON WINGATE g Jud
Assembly that is subject to the statutory provisions of KRS 61.102, et seq. Plaintiff first began g residin
working for the LRC in November, 2004, as a Policy Analyst. P
3 Plaintiff has continuously worked for the LRC since 2004. At the times referenced in this
Complaint related to the reporting of misconduct by the Plaintiff, Plaintiff was serving as the
Chief Clerk of the Kentucky House of Representatives having been elected in January 2017, and
Filed 18-CI-00245 03/08/2018 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk Filed 18-CI-00245 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk
was the Constitutional Officer responsible for maintaining the official records of the Kentucky 6
House of Representatives.
4. During the calendar year 2016, Plaintiff was approached by an employee in his former
role as Chief of Staff (employee hereafter “Jane Doe”), who advised him that she was receiving
inappropriate messages from an elected House member, Rep. Jim DeCesare.
5. At the time of this report, Plaintiff contacted then House Minority Leader,
Representative Jeff Hoover, and advised Hoover of the inappropriate messaging that was
directed at an LRC staff member, and received assurance from Hoover that it would be taken
care of. Plaintiff made note that this process was different than a previous sexual harassment 1F9871B0-E7E8-43E9-A718-B77CE194A243 : 000002 of 00000 complaint filed against Rep. Jim Stewart.
6. In December, 2016, Plaintiff was transitioned from the position of Chief of Staff to the ) 648243
position of Chief Clerk of the Kentucky House of Representatives. (
7. In February, of 2017, Plaintiff was notified by an LRC colleague, Communications
Director, Daisy Olivo, that the new Chief of Staff wanted to move towards termination of Jane
Doe because of an alleged inappropriate relationship that she was maintaining with then
Kentucky Speaker of the House, Jeff Hoover.
8. Before any action was taken against Jane Doe, Doe notifies the LRC office in May, 2017, e: HON. THOMAS DAWSON WINGATE g that she was taking Military leave, and did not return until, on or about October, 2017. Jud g 9. On October 10th, Doe came to Plaintiff’s office and requested that Plaintiff look over a residin P large volume of text messages, many of an explicit nature, that had been exchanged over the
previous two (2) years between Doe and then Speaker Hoover. Doe further shared with Plaintiff 6
a written time-line of inappropriate encounters that she had with Speaker Hoover during this
time period. COM : 000002 of 00000
Filed 18-CI-00245 03/08/2018 2 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk Filed 18-CI-00245 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk
th
10. During this October 10 meeting with Doe, Doe informed Plaintiff that she was going to 6
file a complaint of Sexual Harassment with the LRC against Speaker Hoover.
11. After meeting with Doe, Plaintiff receives a direct Twitter message from the official
account of 1st District Kentucky Congressman, James Comer, referencing Plaintiff’s eminent
termination.
12. Plaintiff communicates with Congressman Comer, Speaker Hoover, Speaker Pro Tem
David Osborne, House Floor Leader Jonathan Shell, House Caucus Chairman David Meade, &
House Whip Kevin Bratcher referencing Congressman Comer’s text and requesting an
explanation. Plaintiff received no response. 1F9871B0-E7E8-43E9-A718-B77CE194A243 : 000003 of 00000 13. On October 17th, Jane Doe notified the Plaintiff that she had served a large demand letter
for her claims of sexual harassment and hostile work environment against Speaker Hoover, ) 648243
several elected House members, and certain employees of the LRC. (
14. On October 23, 2017, Plaintiff was notified by House Republican General Counsel,
Laura Hendrix, to report to the Speaker’s Annex office during normal working hours where he
was introduced to Speaker Hoover’s personal attorney, who recused LRC General Counsel from
the room.
15. Plaintiff was questioned at length during this meeting about Jane Doe’s work habits and e: HON. THOMAS DAWSON WINGATE g interactions with Speaker Hoover and other House members, as well as his knowledge of the first Jud g report Doe made against a House member in 2016, when Plaintiff was Chief of Staff. residin P 16. On October 24, 2017, Plaintiff e-mailed LRC General Counsel, Speaker Hoover’s
personal attorney, and his own private attorney requesting a copy of the Settlement Demand 6
letter submitted by Doe. Plaintiff received no response. COM : 000003 of 00000
Filed 18-CI-00245 03/08/2018 3 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk Filed 18-CI-00245 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk
17. On October 26, 2017, Jane Doe came to Plaintiff’s office and informed Plaintiff that she 6
had entered into a settlement agreement against Speaker Hoover and LRC employees. Doe
informed Plaintiff that that she was pressured into the agreement and stated to Plaintiff that
“Things aren’t going to end well for any of us.” Plaintiff learned that House Republican
General Counsel, Laura Hendrix, was present at the settlement meeting when agreement was
reached on behalf of Doe.
18. Plaintiff was also informed of a conversation between Doe and another LRC employee
where Doe states that the termination of Plaintiff and LRC co-worker Daisy Olivo, was
discussed at the settlement agreement. 1F9871B0-E7E8-43E9-A718-B77CE194A243 : 000004 of 00000 19. Following his conversation with Doe where he was specifically informed that settlement
was reached on behalf of LRC employees, Plaintiff e-mailed LRC General Counsel and others to ) 648243
again request a copy of any settlement agreement to determine any potential liability issues that (
related to LRC staff such as the Plaintiff. Plaintiff received no reply.
20. On November 3, 2017, Plaintiff was called into a meeting with the LRC General
Counsel, Greg Woosley, and Deputy Director for Human Resources, Tim Holbrook, to discuss
the Speaker Hoover and Jane Doe “situation” and Plaintiff reported the information that he
knew. e: HON. THOMAS DAWSON WINGATE g 21. On November 15, 2017, Plaintiff met with and spoke with attorneys from a law firm Jud g attorney hired by the Kentucky House Republican Leadership to investigate the Jane Doe residin P allegations and Plaintiff reported to them the information that he knew.
22. On December 4, 2017, LRC co-worker, Daisy Olivo, filed a lawsuit against the LRC for 6
issues related to the Jane Doe sexual harassment reporting. COM : 000004 of 00000
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23. On December 15, 2017, Plaintiff met with Lexington Federal Bureau of Investigation 6
(FBI) officers to discuss the Jane Doe complaint and settlement.
24. On December 19, 2017, Plaintiff met with official LRC Ethics Investigators and reported
accurately and truthfully all that he witnessed transpire related to the Jane Doe harassment
allegations and subsequent settlement.
25. On January 1, 2018, Plaintiff was approached at approximately 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon
by LRC administration and notified that “issues had come up” with his continued employment
with the LRC, and he was to be terminated immediately.
26. Plaintiff’s identification badge was taken and he was walked off the premises by the State 1F9871B0-E7E8-43E9-A718-B77CE194A243 : 000005 of 00000 Police Officer working as security.
COUNT I ) Violations of KRS 61.102 et. Seq. (Kentucky Whistleblower Act) 648243 ( 27. Plaintiff incorporates the averments contained in paragraphs 1 through 26, as delineated
and set forth above, and incorporates same as if originally set forth herein.
28. Plaintiff, at all times mentioned herein, was employed by the Commonwealth of
Kentucky, and as such, was an employee protected under the Kentucky Whistleblower Act (KRS
61.102, et seq.).
29. Plaintiff reported multiple ethical and mismanagement issues to, the General Counsels of e: HON. THOMAS DAWSON WINGATE g Jud
the LRC, and the LRC HR Director, related to the improper handling of a LRC employee Sexual g residin
Harassment complaint, and the subsequent settlement process related to that Complaint. P
30. Soon after Plaintiff made his disclosures, as described above, Plaintiff was retaliated 6 against by the LRC ,as he was terminated from his employment in violation of KRS 61.102.
COUNT II Violations of KRS 61.103(4) et. Seq. (Kentucky Whistleblower Act) COM : 000005 of 00000
Filed 18-CI-00245 03/08/2018 5 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk Filed 18-CI-00245 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk
31. Plaintiff incorporates the averments contained in paragraphs 1 through 30, as delineated 6
and set forth above, and incorporates same as if originally set forth herein.
32. Plaintiff was subject to further reprisal in violation of KRS 61.103 (4), as he voluntarily
participated in official proceedings as stated in paragraphs 20-24.
33. Plaintiff has been terminated from his employment in violation of KRS 61.103(4).
WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff respectfully prays and demands on both Counts as follows:
A. For trial by jury;
B. For Lost wages and benefits, compensatory, and punitive damages;
C. For his reasonable attorney fees and costs pursuant to KRS 61.990(4) 1F9871B0-E7E8-43E9-A718-B77CE194A243 : 000006 of 00000 D. For any and all other relief to which the Plaintiff may appear entitled.
ZIEGLER & SCHNEIDER, PSC ) 648243
BY: _s/Shane C. Sidebottom______( SHANE C. SIDEBOTTOM (#89046) 541 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 500 P.O. Box 175710 Covington, KY 41017 (859) 426-1300 Email: [email protected]
And
s/Hans G. Poppe______
Hans G. Poppe (#88530) e: HON. THOMAS DAWSON WINGATE g The Poppe Law Firm Jud
8700 Westport Road g Louisville, Kentucky 40242 residin
(502) 895-3400 P [email protected]
Attorneys for Plaintiff, Brad Metcalf 6 COM : 000006 of 00000
Filed 18-CI-00245 03/08/2018 6 Amy Feldman, Franklin Circuit Clerk