TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A Florida Department of Corrections employee and protected whistleblower alleges she faced retaliation for reporting employee misconduct.
Joyce Swain filed a complaint April 4 in Leon County Circuit Court against the Florida Department of Corrections alleging violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act and Florida Whistleblower Act.
Swain, an African American female who says she is a protected whistleblower, began working for the Florida Department of Corrections in 2008 and works as a wellness education specialist. She claims that she had reported the misconduct of several co-workers, including bringing illegal drugs into the facility, participating in inappropriate behavior with inmates and making false accusations against an inmate in order to have them moved into confinement.
Swain alleges that as a result of her reporting the co-workers' misconduct, she faced retaliation including having fecal matter rubbed all over the walls and sink in the personal restroom inside her locked office. She further alleges the defendant failed to report the incident to the central office and claims the incident was a hate crime based on her race and reports of discrimination.
Swan seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Attorney Marie Mattox in Tallahassee.