Jackson County, Missouri – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has announced that the State of Missouri has won an important legal battle. A jury in Jackson County Circuit Court unanimously found that the Missouri Department of Corrections was not guilty of any of the claims made against it in a major employment discrimination complaint. The result means that Missouri taxpayers won’t have to pay what could have been tens of millions of dollars.
The case was about a former Department of Corrections employee who said they were frequently denied promotions, treated unfairly compared to coworkers, and ultimately fired because they had filed complaints before. These claims were made under several counts of illegal discrimination.
The jury turned down all of the plaintiff’s claims after a trial that lasted several days. The Attorney General’s Employment Law Section carefully tore apart the claims, giving evidence and testimony that went against what the plaintiff said. The jurors decided that the allegations were not valid and agreed with the state on every point.
“This verdict sends a clear message: we will not allow meritless claims to disrupt the operations of our state agencies or burden the taxpayers of Missouri,” said Attorney General Andrew Bailey. “When the State of Missouri is sued, our Office stands ready to defend its laws, institutions, and public servants with integrity and excellence. I couldn’t be more proud of our team for delivering this win for Missouri taxpayers.”
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The stakes in the case were high. The plaintiff wanted damages close to eight figures, which would have cost the state a lot of money if they were awarded. The Attorney General’s Office not only defended the Department of Corrections’ reputation by winning in court, but they also protected public money from what Bailey called “unwarranted payouts.”
He said that the civil defense lawyers in his office were responsible for the win because of their competence and hard work.
“This result is a testament to the exceptional talent and dedication of the civil defense attorneys in our Employment Law Section,” he added.
The finding effectively ends a long-running legal battle for the Department of Corrections, confirming its hiring methods and protecting it from a judgment that could have been very damaging. Bailey says this also shows the Attorney General’s Office’s bigger job: to protect Missouri’s laws, institutions, and public workers with both honesty and excellence.
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The Jackson County jury’s unanimous verdict not only settled the case in the state’s favor, but it also reinforced the idea that legal claims need to be backed up by solid facts and evidence, especially when taxpayer money is at stake.
