Teacher Claims She Was Canned For Complaints
A federal judge will hold a hearing later this month on a lawsuit filed by a teacher who claimed a Middle Village school fired her after she complained about being sexually harassed by a co-worker.
Frances Ludwigson, who taught first grade at Our Lady of Hope School, was dismissed from her position last October after 16 years of employment. Earlier this year, she filed a lawsuit against the school, its top administrators and the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, claiming that she lost her job in retaliation for lodging a sexual harassment complaint against a custodian.
The Times Newsweekly received a copy of the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn in February, and the formal legal response from attorneys representing the defendants, filed by the court last Monday, Apr. 21.
Neither Ludwigson nor attorneys representing Our Lady of Hope School and the diocese wished to comment on the pending litigation for this article.
According to the lawsuit, Ludwigson complained in June 2013 to Our Lady of Hope School Principal Michelle Krebs that two coworkers- in an apparent prank-had hacked into her computer account and changed grades on her students’ report cards. Krebs allegedly told Ludwigson not to complain about anything further.
In September, it is alleged, Ludwigson was confronted in her classroom after school by a custodian, who was not among the defendants named in the lawsuit. She reportedly ran out of the classroom after he tried to forcefully kiss her.
The lawsuit indicated that Ludwigson had previously been harassed by the custodian, along with several other teachers who have since either retired or moved on to other employment.
After the custodian allegedly harassed her again in October by glaring “in an intimidating manner” at her for several minutes, Ludwigson reported the harassment to Krebs. The principal told the teacher she would speak with Rev. Michael Carrano, the parish’s pastor, about the episode.
On Oct. 9, the lawsuit claimed, Carrano allegedly summoned Ludwigson to his office and informed her she would not have her contract renewed for the 2014-15 school year.
“Do you have a persecution complex?” Carrano was quoted in the complaint as allegedly telling Ludwigson. “You are not prudent and show very bad judgment.”
Ludwigson then told Carrano that the custodian allegedly harassed one of her colleagues. The pastor reportedly told her that he already knew that, then ordered Ludwigson to return to her classroom.
Nearly 10 days later, the complaint noted, Krebs allegedly reprimanded Ludwigson for “refusing to work with the other teachers on her grade level,” for taking a two-day absence and for missing a meeting with Carrano.
Finally, on Oct. 31, Carrano and Krebs informed Ludwigson at a meeting that she was suspended with pay for the remainder of her contract, which expires this August.
The teachers’ attorneys claimed Ludwigson was subjected to “a discriminatory, hostile and abusive work environment.” Her termination, lawyers claimed, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and provisions of the city’s Administrative Code barring employers from punishing or firing workers for making accusations of wrongdoing by an employee.
Ludwigson is seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits; mental and emotional injury; legal fees and expenses; and any other relief the court deems fit.
In its formal response to the court, the defendants denied the accusations outright, claiming that Carrano and Krebs decided to relieve Ludwigson of her duties “regarding job performance issues.”
Our Lady of Hope, school officials and the diocese acted in compliance “with policies, programs and procedures for the prevention and detection of discrimination and harassing practices by employees, agents and other persons” associated with the school, the response noted.
It was also mentioned that the defendants in the case “have a record of no, or relatively few, prior incidents of discrimination.”
Federal Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann is scheduled to hold the hearing on May 27 in Brooklyn.
