Former employees file complaints
MEDICAL LAKE — Eastern State Hospital and the Department of Social Human Services is now involved in two lawsuits initiated by two former employees, both of which have trial dates set in August and October, according to Spokane County Court documents.
One of the lawsuits has been filed by Sheri Hendon, who is a licensed psychiatric social worker formerly employed by the hospital and alleges that she was retaliated against for filing a complaint against a supervisor, Deanna Bemus, and was also subject to an ongoing hostile work environment, court documents said.
Perhaps most bizarrely, court documents state that Hendon had previously discovered that her supervisor, Bemus, was having an affair with her husband.
The day Hendon was made aware of the affair, she allegedly reported to her office only to find that Bemus had placed a gift-wrapped quantity of horse manure on her desk, court documents said.
Hendon further states that no disciplinary action was taken against Bemus for this act, or any of the other complaints which Hendon had registered with Mary Reidy, the former director of the social work department, court documents said.
Hendon alleges that Reidy also continued to place Bemus in positions of supervisory control over the department when she (Reidy) was not present, even though Hendon had expressed concerns about Bemus on multiple occasions, court documents said.
Ultimately, as a result of actions taken by both Reidy and Bemus, Hendon sought professional therapy and was forced seek alternate employment, court documents said.
Hendon is seeking compensation for all past and future loss of wages, attorney’s fees, special damages, pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses, and other damages, court documents say.
A status conference is slated for Oct. 20 of 2023, at which parties will meet to discuss the potential for trial.
The second lawsuit, which was filed in April of 2023 and has now gone to trial as of Aug. 19, involves plaintiff Michelann Castleman against Eastern State Hospital and the Department of Social Human Services.
Castleman alleges that the hospital and her supervisor, Matt McCord, engaged in discriminatory actions on the basis of her sexuality, court documents say.
Castleman further alleges that the defendants subjected her to constant harassment, going so far as to conspire to have her nursing license revoked on the basis of her sexual orientation, court documents say.
Castleman is seeking compensation for all past and future loss of wages, attorney’s fees, special damages, pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses, and other damages, court documents say.
The next trial was scheduled for Aug. 23 at the time of this publication.
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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