Former MWAA Police Officer Sues Alleging Discrimination, Retaliation and Nepotism

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2013 - The following is being released by The Employment Law Group® Law Firm: Isabel Smeal, a former police officer, is suing the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) for alleged sexual harassment and discrimination based upon her sex, race and nation origin. The case is filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. During Smeal's over fourteen years of service with MWAA, the Authority continuously awarded her and recognized her excellent performance by consecutively raising her salary every year. Smeal was the first female MWAA police officer to be a Firearms Instructor and the first female M-4 Rifle Instructor. She also led lobbying efforts related to two bills in the Virginia Assembly that covered all MWAA Police Officers– the Heart & Lung and Infectious Disease Codes. From about 2002 to 2004, Smeal allegedly experienced continual and unwanted sexual advances from fellow police officer, Lieutenant John Balser. Smeal complained to her supervisor twice, to which MWAA responded that she was not the target of sexual harassment. Smeal later discovered that MWAA failed to conduct an EEO investigation regarding her complaint prior to issuing its determination. In 2011, Smeal reported to her supervisor that two female spouses were violating MWAA's anti-nepotism policy because one spouse was directly supervising the other. Smeal's superior simply responded that Virginia did not recognize their relationship, ignoring the true intent behind the Authority's anti-nepotism policy. Smeal later learned that the supervising officer in question was "out to get [her]" because of her complaint. After fourteen years of unblemished performance and raising concerns of internal violations of its own policies, MWAA terminated Smeal for an alleged breach of trust. This disciplinary action was unprecedented given MWAA previously failed to act in the face of more egregious misconduct, such as time card fraud and the negligent misplacement of a loaded gun in a public restroom. "This has been devastating for me and my family," says Smeal of the ordeal. "It has been extremely stressful for me emotionally, physically, and financially to have my whole career unjustly destroyed. I am a firm believer in the judicial system and I know that I will soon be able to move forward with my life and my career." "Smeal's allegations of fraud and harassment are supported by years of documentation and witness accounts," says Scott Oswald, managing principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm. "No individual should have to suffer as she has, especially someone who has served dutifully in her position for fourteen years. We are confident justice will be served for Isabel Smeal." Civil Action No. 1:12-cv-1330 TSE/TRJ About The Employment Law Group® Law Firm The Employment Law Group® law firm is one of the premier employment law firms representing individuals from all over the United States and around the world in EEOC, Sarbanes-Oxley and other whistleblower cases against the government and publicly held U.S. corporations. The firm's attorneys are seasoned trial lawyers litigating on behalf of individuals against employers who disregard federal and state whistleblower and employment laws.