Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. Kaiser said she's not sure what Jackley's role in her settlement was, but believes blame for the delay partially falls on him. 2013) case opinion from the District of South Dakota U.S. Federal District Court '!kcE!>{=C9Cv G4]mY01I&Em@6cR1d>!B
u Kaiser then confronted Erickson one-on-one and asked him to stop the harassment. endobj
If she did something wrong, like breaking the law to catch someone breaking the law, that would be enough. D-D$3I20eV&,$~ n. This is about corruption in the State of South Dakota and it is because of strong and determined individuals such as Laura Kaiser that this type of unacceptable behavior will finally be exposed for what it is. WebDowty v. D.C.I. If not, it really doesnt matter, their lives might as well, be over. I am also well aware that the large majority of males are not sexual criminals. On information and belief, Plaintiff is the only agent who has ever been transferred against her wishes[Complaint, 2015.09.23]. Come on, people! As you look through the sections that describe the duties of the Division of Criminal Investigation, you will notice that we are very busy working in the background to keep South Dakota citizens safe. http://www.ag.state.mn.us/ Kaiser told the texter all negotiations would continue to go through her Minneapolis-based attorney. . JFIF JOB DETAILS. Jackley said he played no part in Kaiser's settlement, but she said, she's not sure what to believe. Following trial, Kaiser commented: "I would like to thank the jury for their time and for giving me justice. I acknowledge MCs point that there is surely more to the story.
After the failed communicative efforts, Kaisers attorneys filed an affidavit detailing the communication issues, as well as motions with the court to compel the settlement amount on May 14. I once saw a group of about a dozen DCI agents called from all over the state to testify at a trial as they arrived and gathered in a courthouse lobby. WebOur special agents are full-spectrum criminal investigators, handling all manners of felony-level criminal activity. More Highway Patrol Trooper South Dakota State Government The cold, hard, fact remains, males perpetrate more than 90% of the sexual crimes. Zylstra Kaiser filed grievances over the demotion and transferwith Gortmaker and Attorney General Marty Jackley. Q We have a woman who is making some very serious allegations against a group of men.
Hank Prim - Supervisory Special Agent & State Law Enforcement Weighing onZylstra Kaisers mind, though, was a 2005 experience in which shehad reported another co-worker for sexual harassmentand gotten the wrong response from the boss: Her then-supervisor, Assistant Director Brian Zeeb, said her complaint could be seen as a sign of weakness and made a comment along the lines of, In the future, if you want a promotion or transfer to a new duty station, some may see this incident as your inability to get along with others. Rather than undertaking an investigation, Zeeb forced her to confronther harasser. The next day is when things began to go awry. 7 0 obj << On information and belief, and knowing Even would investigate Plaintiffs harassment complaint, Black worked with Erickson, Bahr, and Lunzman to formulate a set of talking points in an effort to have Plaintiff removed from the department or terminated, including planning to state they did not trust Plaintiff, she falsified the harassment to test Blacks trustworthiness, they were unwilling to work with her, and that she was mentally ill and schizophrenic[Complaint, 2015.09.23]. Special Agents et al, No. To all the men out there that need advice on how to treat women in the workplace, Ill give you a clue. Indeed. This is so wrong and. Over the past couple of years, Laura and I have compared our particular time lines along with documented facts and discovery. %PDF-1.7 Zylstra decided to talk about the harassment with fellow Aberdeen agent Mark Black, with whom she had a close relationship. (Remember, this is the same Mark Black who eventually was fired from the DCI following revelations of violent behavior toward his own wife.) UM has more students, faculty and staff than the population of Rapid City. A jury awarded Kaiser a settlement for sexual harassment and other damages on Dec. 27, 2017 against her former boss, Bryan Gortmaker. Erickson acknowledged his comments were inappropriate, apologized, and said he would not make any such comments in the future [Complaint, 2015.09.23]. None of the men, including Ross Erickson, were disciplined by DCI or the Brown County Sherriffs Office. Zylstra Kaiser now charges Gortmaker withreprisal discrimination and sex discrimination under the federal Civil Rights Act and the South Dakota Human RelationsAct. She seeks, among other things, a jury trial, compensatory relief and damages arising from loss of past and future income, benefits, emotional distress, and other damages, with interest on such amounts, and punitive damages in an amount in excess of $75,000, and lawyer fees. Powers spins this story because Dan Kaiser is a constant burr under the establishment machines saddle, and because establishment crony Marty Jackley is running for governor. That seems to be SOP for the DCI for a while now. It was a wonderful atmosphere. I hope Zylstra Kaiser rips them to shreds.
South Dakota Attorney General The jury found that Kaiser suffered retaliation and gender discrimination after she complained of sexual harassment by one of her colleagues in October 2011. >> A couple years ago I was visiting friends in RC and overheard a group at the next table making fun of the women there. 4:2012cv04002 - Document 45 (D.S.D.
Agent @Roger Cornelius Curious when you did your nation wide survey that supports your asinine assertion? We believe the interrogations were live streamed to Pierre with someone feeding Black intimidating, confusing and attacking questions to ask the Mette children. MC, a preponderance of evidence shows that kind of behavior is common place. P.O. $100,000?" The only way this will ever before a jury is if Ms. Zylstra Kaiser asks for more than Marty is willing to pay: its just that simple.
South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation | LinkedIn On or about October 20, 2011, Erickson told Plaintiff that Black had told the entire office about what was happening. %
55 Best Criminal Justice Jobs in South Dakota | Indeed.com We have only heard one side of the story and based on that, and they are part of the current administration, you folks have already tried, convicted, and sentenced them. They sure dont need to kill her. The paperwork was signed and finalized by the Governors Office of Risk Management on Monday, May 21, 2018. I mostly agree with you Jenny. She was living away from her husband and baby. My country ranch church in northwest SD was like that. Ms. Geelsdottir, I support all those things. Kaiser appealed the discipline to DCI and eventually to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, but each of her appeals was denied. Indeed, we are reading here only the complaint. Kaiser said the DCI attorney met her in Redfield, at his request, to give her the two checks. It will be difficult to defend Black and anyone who tries to use his words and actions as credible evidence. I have personally met with supervisor Jason Even who demonstrated that he was a complete idiot who didnt know the first thing about law enforcement or criminal investigations. Kaiser asked Black not to tell anyone about what she was relaying. Web7 Enforcement Agent jobs available in South Dakota on Indeed.com. Kaiser said at that time she signed the agreement. She lost her dream job and her career because she stood up for what is right. ", Former DCI agent receives $1.5 million settlement payment after months of delay, DEVELOPING: First responders on the scene at Husets Speedway after incident, Meteorologists Facebook post on grocery dividers sparks wild debate, Police: Two arrested in overnight burglary in Sioux Falls, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Frontier Climbing hosts first climbing competition in South Dakota, Washington Pavilion hosts free event to celebrate agriculture, Embe hosts FIRST LEGO League state championship, Fourth annual Womens Day of Service building hygiene kits. Both grievances were denied. stream
It looks like an impossible trial to get a verdict. Nor is it about what is happening at the University of Minnesota. 4 0 obj
The case is titled, Laura Zyltra Kaiser v. Bryan Gortmaker, in his Official Capacity as South Dakota Director of the Division of Criminal Investigation, 15-CV-1030. Unbeknownst to Plaintiff, Black told Brown County Deputy Damian Bahr and DCI Agent Dave Lunzman, the only other law enforcement in the Aberdeen office, about Ericksons treatment toward Plaintiff. As you look through the sections that describe the duties of the Division of Criminal Investigation, you will notice Dont be too hard on PP, he probably just doesnt know how to pull up the complaint. Since then, Mark Black has stated he never contacted or interviewed by law enforcement or the Attorney Generals office regarding my criminal complaint and only learned about it after the SD AG had dismissed my complaint as reported by news media. Former DCI agent Laura Zylstra Kaiser says the state of South Dakota delayed paying her $1.5 million settlement, following a lawsuit over workplace sexual harassment. 1 0 obj
$.' And the U of MN has added the Affirmative Consent Sexual Activity standard. 6 0 obj Kaiser told Erickson to stop, but his comments persisted. <>
The coincidence of the administrative attack on Zylstra Kaiser and the legal attack on Schwab, Taliaferro, and the Mette children suggests a connection, a multi-front push by Brown County an DCI to shut down potentially damaging lawsuits. >> Kaiser successfully completed eight of the nine objectives of the plan, one of which required her to undergo a psychological evaluation. WebDCI Special Agent I or II State of South Dakota South Dakota, United States 3 weeks ago Be among the first 25 applicants See who State of South Dakota has hired for this role Phone: (605) 330-4862 . q
South Dakota You slime every other Republican male because MCs nave embracement of the establishment, in his bid to be named as Hickeys replacement? My Family and I have spent years trying to report a case of $800,000 of fraud and theft to DCI in South Dakota. I say so here and now. This is one of those rare situations where the accused should be guilty until they prove themselves innocent. Apply to Correctional Officer, Inventory Associate, Special Agent and more! endstream Hopefully Lauras story, and the jurys verdict, will play a small part in continuing the message that sexual harassment and retaliation cannot be condoned or allowed.. Thanks. POSTED. Asking Were you horny when you were pregnant?; Saying Go ahead and walk away, because I am going to stare at your ass the whole time; Texting her to ask what color underwear she was wearing; Stating it was a good thing she was not single because otherwise he would hit on her all the time; Remarking that Plaintiff looked hot when she wore glasses.
South The four men decided that Kaiser fabricated the sexual harassment allegations as test for Black and decided that they could no longer trust her and refused to work with her. They were dated back to March. Web[1.] Plaintiff considered his offer but decided she would speak to Erickson herself. #Bh@*Jpi\uRML)p\;SuS(dO}Ziq.!n1+*T82 ,sV2
#/R9iN6]I#[v`L?K[oWC^3Ch+z;nc. Agent Kaisers accusations are credible to me. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>>
Supervisor Jason Even took the mens side immediately, accused Zylstra Kaiser of fabricating the sexual harassment allegations against Erickson, and warned her that the issue could lead to her termination. My Mother first reported these crimes to agent Joshua Bobzein who was so horrible that I actually had to file a criminal complaint against Bobzein. You do not have to be silent and you should not be in fear of speaking up.
South Dakota WebThe South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources believes in building, developing, and supporting a high-performing and healthy workforce. She was paid on Wednesday after several months of negotiations. And I have met with Jessica Page, who despite appearing to sincerely want to help the crime victim, was completely incompetent. I have not only watched and observed her efforts these past 3 years but supported her every step of the way as well. /ProcSet 6 0 R @c`m6x\^=5^'Gb68qk!b@8hg"Xv3nK2
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Q}Y5z0VF3,=i0U`d ~o^Lq92,r+f^$-Gxpv1yGTY/0 6Lqa{b.K!hD%D*pc?X;^3 F`c!. Statewide, SD. Think about it: NorthWestern Energy is reaching an agreement with PUC commissioners whose campaign coffers they fill while Mike Rounds pushes for legislation that pads utilities like NorthWestern Energy and Xcel who are paying off his campaign debt after he promised to be the 9 million dollar man. <>
SD women you dont have to put up with such nastiness. Yea. I just do not understand why everyone must make this about politics because it is not. Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. For a moment,Zylstra thought shed found a supportive ear: Black was supportive offered to speak to Erickson for Plaintiff. WebSOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY prevention protection enforcement March 9, 2022 The Honorable Spencer Gosch Speaker of the House 500 E. Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 RE: HR 7001 Speaker Gosch: I understand that the House Select Committee on Investigation is close to concluding its work in examining the Then, her lawyer continued to attempt to contact the DCI attorney without response.
DCI Special Agent I or II - South Dakota State Government Eventually, she was forced to resign in 2012. endobj
This case and settlement was handled by the Governors Office of Risk Management and the States insurance company. Sioux Falls, SD . In March 2012, Kaiser received her worst review of her eight-year career. Im not sympathetic to the cry of males being picked on.. Wingnuts are spinning a tangled web and one day they will receive their just rewards. View Background Report Sponsored Brett D Spencer 's Record in 2020 Name Brett D Spencer Location South Dakota Phone Ad View phone number Payroll Year 2020 In the meantime, let us all take a breath, put politics and rhetoric aside, and support this courageous young lady. Its likely that Mike Clark isnt crazy enough for Daugaard by somebody like Roger Hunt or Allen Unrubb might just be insane enough for Denny. Sexual Harassment - Hostile Work Environment, Failure to Cancel Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), Force Placed Insurance - Flood & Homeowners, Predatory Lending/Unfair Mortgage Servicing, Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination, Loans, Financing, and Borrowers' Rights Overview, Civil Rights and Impact Litigation Overview, Plaintiffs Public Housing Claims Move Forward in Minneapolis, Inside Sales Representative Brings Overtime Case Against Brightwheel, Nichols Kaster, PLLP Awarded First Tier Ranking on The 2023 Best Law Firms List. But in this lawsuit it says 'Marty Jackley, in his official capacity as Attorney General for the State of South Dakota and Marty Jackley personally.' VY9H~d&D#iu.QUCoHB(L}~JOI:xw9x0Gh=,~]\c"r-)o!Jx_%1+^Iy$UYXc,WE
South Dakota Attorney General She says shereceived positive performance reviews through mid-2011, when she says her mid-year evaluation praised her for her exceptional work product, ability to work amicably with other DCI agents and members of her task force, relentless work, and above-average case activity.. Based upon these dates, this settlement was not delayed. Purpose: Conducts independent investigations or coordinates investigations with other state, /Type /XObject 2 0 obj
The sentence is always a lifetime sentence of shame. Gay men in MN are very open now when it comes to gay equality and all I can say is that the world has been a better place for me for having met these decent men. He said, she said, with the DCI boys holding the stay out of trouble card in the form of shared talking points. The Childrens Home Society is a front for raising cash just like the Governors Club has been. WebSpecial Agent Cam Corey began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff. The court of public opinion is different than court of law. When they speak, I will report. We believe the both in front of me were our individual cases. /Type /Page They greeted each other with an extended ritual of feigned nut-grabbing and knee-lifts-to-groins that would have appeared immature among 10-year-olds, and was performed in front of the county treasurer and auditor windows. yeah, this is pretty much how sexual harassment is handled in this state, right grudz? She charges Black with tortious interference, meaning he underminedher contractualrelationship with DCIto cover his backside.
DCI agent ",#(7),01444'9=82. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Support South Dakotas best independent journalism: donate to. Finished: John D. MacDonald's 'The Brass Cupcake'. Sad, really, we were the greatest country on earth, and we cant even get this right. DCI Special Agent I or II in South Dakota State Government; Rapid City, SD. In August 2011, Kaiser was ranked as meets or exceeds in every job category.
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She appliedfor jobs with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Labor Relations, and private employers but received no offers, because, she alleges, of DCIs negative references and misrepresentations about [her]employment, demotion, discharge, and performance. She filed charges of discrimination in 2014 against those three state agencies who didnt hire her. stream
South Dakota Attorney General We are South Dakota's premier criminal justice and criminal investigative agency. It happens everyday all over this country, yet when republicans face heat they yell there is another side to this story (without telling it) or that the perp must be proven guilty. q During the chain of events, Jackley's name was replaced on the agreement with, "elected and appointed officials," and then to Craig Ambach, the Director of the Office of Risk Management for the state. I looked around to see if anyone was noticing. Purpose: Conducts or assists with criminal
South Dakota DCI (@SouthDakotaDCI) | Twitter #29473-a-MES 2021 S.D. 61 - South Dakota WebSTATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA CLASS SPECIFICATION Class Title: DCI Special Agent I Class Code: 688801 Pay Grade: L4 _____ A. There might be more to the this story than what we see here. The latest Tweets from South Dakota DCI (@SouthDakotaDCI). On November 4, 2011, Laura was in Pierre and aware of all of the state player (regarding her case and ours) that were present in Pierre as well.
Dci Special Agent In December 2011, following the work improvement plan, DCI informed Kaiser that effective January 3, 2012, she would be demoted from Special Agent III to Special Agent II and transferred to the Medicare Fraud unit in Pierre, South Dakota, away from her husband, Dan, an Aberdeen police officer, and fourteen month old child.
Fax: (605) 330-4860 State of South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program WebSTATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA CLASS SPECIFICATION Class Title: DCI Special Agent II Class Code: 688802 Pay Grade: L5 _____ A. Plaintiff apologized and stated that it was not her intent to have the office know about the issue. Plaintiff approached Erickson on or about October 18, 2011 and explained that she was not comfortable with his sexually-oriented comments. She was living away from her husband and baby. /Length 47 Later in the week, Kaiser received another agreement with a payment date of June 8. It boggles my mind that adult males would behave that way. By doing so, it has become clear that on November 4, 2011, Mark Black was given marching orders to get rid of a few individuals who were about the expose the state of wrong doing that would ultimately lead to major lawsuits against the State of SD. The language of the settlement agreement states the following: The payment will be made by delivering the checks to Kaisers attorneys so that the checks are in their hands no sooner than May 21, 2018, but in no event later than June 8, 2018. ~D$fQn}d0(i \I$EauuuF|]>p(_t^A :5u2t,2!u6lTN
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yzN3B=_J. # "I received a text message from an Aberdeen attorney -- who i'll just leave as anonymous at this point --it said, 'I just talked with Marty on your case, hope that is OK, may I call you to be an intermediary directly with him to have no appeals?' The only objective Kaiser did not complete according to DCI was rebuilding the trust with the men in the office who had shunned her. 1 0 obj
WebWhen Chief Agent Miller retired, Merle Melstad served as chief agent of the DCI for six months in 1955; he was followed in that post by Rol Kebach, who was to serve twenty LOCATION. When called to account, Black allegedly turned against Zylstra Erickson: Later that day, Plaintiff approached Black and asked why he shared her personal information. Kaiser again said she didn't want to wait for the money and refused to sign any agreement until she had the checks in hand. Lets hope she gets a judge that isnt in the tank for the administration. Imagine Marty Jackley complying with a federal judge to hand over DCI emails, people. Anyone believing Marty and the DCI want federal probes of their white boys club is delusional. They hadnt noticed because it was a routine event. . So youre saying, Bob, dont just feign it?
Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Special Agent I & II POSTED ON 6/23/2022 AVAILABLE BEFORE 12/22/2022. There are some parts of SD where women are treated with respect and dignity. Meanwhile, Mark Black was in the Brown County DCI interrogation rooms going after the Mette children in a strategic attempt to get them to change their stories. WebClass Title: DCI Special Agent III Class Code: 688804 Pay Grade: L6 _____ A. So, the bad guys got away; not because they were clever criminal masterminds, but because of the corruption and incompetence of SD DCI Law Enforcement. WebThis week, we welcomed a new Special Agent to the Division of Criminal Investigation family! Then those comments would be taken out of context and used against them. >> That agreement along with forthcoming agreements included a non-disparagement clause, which forbid Kaiser from saying anything negative about the case, the people involved in the case or her former employer. (no offense to the Girl Scouts). Let the defendants defend themselves in a court of law. As Shirley Schwab points out, Ms. Zylstra Kaiser was going through her experience at the same time the DCI and AG office were performing on the Taliaferro-Schwab debacle, and Blacks conduct is a matter of a trail transcript which leads to the judge dismissing the case against them with specific mention of Blacks performance being one of the reasons. April 15 came and went and after multiple unreturned emails regarding the settlement agreement in April, Kaiser's lawyer was eventually told Jackley had been unavailable because he'd been in Washington, D.C. for the previous two weeks. Demented Criminal Infantile for their acronym.
The - South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation | Facebook stream Cops lives suck. WebSouth Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo named an interim director of the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation on Tuesday. WebIn 2018, I began my career as a Special Agent with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), where I was primarily charged with leading full-spectrum, complex I have seen situations were women have threaten sexual harassment, to get what what they want. /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB
DCI Agent Finalist For National Award How often do you contact your legislators and Congress people about these issues? No need for me romanticiz about the DCI, in my relationship with Kevin Thumb there was no love. "On February 28th I received a copy of that agreement," Kaiser said. Thats too bad for SD and a real reason people leave. At the conclusion of trial, the jury found in favor of Kaiser on both her retaliation and gender discrimination claims. A special agent of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) sought several search warrants involving the Implicated Individual. /Width 1693 The Director of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Bryan Gortmaker, first received the compromise settlement agreement and release in full of all claims on Friday, May 18, 2018. The original settlement said Kaiser was to be paid by April 1 and no later than April 15. << /PAGE0001 7 0 R >> To say this lawsuit is about SD Representative Dan Kaiser is merely a distraction to the real story. Anyone know if Marty has to recuse himself from this case before a federal judge?
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