A lawsuit filed in opposition to the Lake County Coroner’s Workplace alleges {that a} former worker was retaliated in opposition to after he refused to return his retired canine to the coroner’s workplace.
The federal lawsuit was filed Thursday within the U.S. District Court docket for the Northern District of Illinois.
Gurnee resident Jason Patt was the chief deputy coroner on the Lake County Coroner’s Workplace.
Patt, a U.S. Navy veteran, started his 21-year legislation enforcement profession as a army patrolman and later labored for the Lake County Sheriff’s Workplace as a corrections officer.
He joined the coroner’s workplace in 2007 and labored there for 13 years.
Patt had created the workplace’s first canine program, which was funded by grants, the swimsuit stated.
He was the handler to Bones, a Belgian Malinois, which was a cadaver-sniffing canine. The 2 spent “practically each hour of the day” collectively.
The lawsuit stated Patt started implementing separation time with Bones by doing varied modifications, together with having the canine sleep within the basement as a substitute of his bed room, within the months main as much as the November 2020 election.
He knew his place was appointed and if a brand new coroner took workplace his job was in danger, which might have an emotional influence on Bones if they may not be collectively continuously anymore, the swimsuit stated.
The results of the separation time was a “catastrophe” for Bones, who started defecating indoors, barking, destroying furnishings and doing different uncommon actions.
Outgoing coroner Howard Cooper determined to retire Bones in accordance with Illinois’ Police Canine Retirement Act and allowed Patt to undertake him.
The lawsuit stated Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek, the day earlier than she assumed workplace in 2020, directed Patt to submit a retirement letter or else he could be terminated.
Patt agreed and submitted the letter of retirement on the day Banek assumed workplace on December 1, 2020.
The swimsuit stated Banek “grew to become livid” with Patt when she discovered that he had adopted Bones.
Banek despatched a letter to Patt on December 11, 2020, demanding Patt return Bones to the coroner’s workplace.
Patt refused and stated that the canine had been legally retired as a result of his recognized separation anxiousness.
“Unbeknownst to Patt, his adoption of Bones prompted Banek to precise illegal retribution in opposition to Patt, although he had performed completely nothing mistaken,” the lawsuit stated.
Patt had been in discussions with the Lake County Sheriff’s Workplace about employment alternatives however these ended after Banek assumed workplace. “These discussions ended; the road went lifeless,” the swimsuit stated.
Patt went on to get rejected by quite a few different entities for jobs he utilized for, “typically deep into the interview course of.”
An investigator for a place that Patt was ultimately employed for advised him that he reached out to Banek throughout the safety clearance course of.
Banek allegedly advised that investigator that Patt was not eligible for rehire along with her workplace as a result of he was “AWOL” and never performing his duties, the swimsuit stated.
The investigator advised Patt that Banek stated “different dangerous issues” about him.
Patt then went on to file a Freedom of Info Act request with the coroner’s workplace.
He discovered from his FOIA request that Banek advised the investigator that Patt had typically failed to indicate as much as work, engaged in extramarital affairs and he or she had antagonistic details about funds and Patt’s “normal habits or conduct.”
The lawsuit stated Banek’s statements had been false and he or she made them in a “deliberate effort to hurt” Patt.
“It’s now obvious that Banek made such statements to different potential employers who known as about Patt’s report with the Coroner’s Workplace,” the swimsuit stated.
Banek advised Lake and McHenry County Scanner that her workplace has no touch upon the lawsuit as a result of pending litigation.
