Judge Michael Sage. Photo taken by Amie Dworecki.
Kimball Perry reports
Two co-workers of a Butler County court employee blasted in a report last week for bullying others while having an extramarital affair with a judge wonder why she hasn’t been fired.
Last week, Reynoldsburg attorney Scott Warrick,delivered a stinging report on Jennifer Olivier’s allegations of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and retaliation after Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Sage ended their nine-year affair. Warrick suggested in the report that Olivier, bolstered by her relationship with the judge, was the workplace bully and wrote her conduct should “not be allowed to continue for one more hour.”
Bailiff Christine Jones and Judicial Assistant Shirley Lakes – both employees working under Sage – seconded that sentiment and asked the judges, in a Monday email to The Enquirer, to get rid of her.
Warrick “noted several violations of our employee handbook that would mean immediate termination for any other employee,” their email read.
When contacted Monday, both Jones and Lakes refused further comment.
They also criticized several judges for continuing to allow Olivier to work with those she accused of wrongdoing but who were exonerated by Warrick’s investigation.
“In the aftermath of the release of the report, Judge (Charles) Pater has issued a statement that says we have done nothing wrong,” Jones and Lakes wrote in the email.
“Although we appreciate that astute observation, Pater and three of the other judges ignored Mr. Warrick’s recommendation that Ms. Olivier was the problem and that her behavior should not be tolerated ‘one more hour.’ ”
Neither Pater nor Court Administrator Gary Yates would comment about the email.
The email states Olivier won’t be disciplined because such action would appear to be retaliation for her complaints.
“(N)ot only is she still employed by the county, but we are still required to work with somebody who has made these slanderous accusations against us,” the email by Jones and Lakes noted.
Olivier was a court reporter, taking electronic dictation of court proceedings, when she delivered a January letter to Judge Michael Sage who, a month earlier, ended their nine-year affair. Both Sage and Olivier have spouses.
She didn’t return Monday calls.
Her letter noted she was being shunned and retaliated against because of the break-up. The report, though, found Olivier used her relationship with and connection to the judge to bully other employees and create a hostile work environment. She also wanted $350,000 to settle her allegations.
Posted in: Crime, News |
Tags: Tags: Butler County common pleas, Butler County Common Pleas Court, Judge Michael Sage, Michael Sage
